IGARSS 2026 to Feature Multiple Young Professionals (YP) Events
By Kevin P. Corbley
The IEEE GRSS Young Professionals (YP) group has organized a full schedule of events for the 2026 IGARSS Conference being held Aug. 9-14 in Washington, D.C. The YP group is building on the momentum of its remarkably successful slate of activities at last summer’s conference in Australia.
YP events have become favorites among GRSS members who are looking to broaden their international networks, polish their professional images, and give back to their communities. Officially, YP encompasses members who graduated with their first degree within the past 15 years. This includes many who are still students as well as those who have already embarked on their professional careers – either in academia or industry – creating a diverse mix of members.
YP members are known for harnessing their youthful energy and spirit to organize, and participate in, some of the most popular activities both during and outside of GRSS events. Young people who are not yet involved in GRSS YP are missing out on the following ongoing activities held throughout the year:
Webinar Series – Featuring guests from the research and private sector communities, these online events give Young Professionals insights into the full spectrum of research and career opportunities in their geographic region and around the world.
Competitions – Whether in public speaking, photography, or another skill, YP members put their abilities and courage to the test in organized competitions where the prize is often cold hard cash.
Social Activities – YP members have always looked forward to mixing with the more established GRSS practitioners over refreshments and local cuisine at IGARSS conferences around the world, and lately the YP group has been taking these mixers on the road as stand-alone events hosted by local chapters at cities around the world.
Rise Up Mentorship – There’s nothing else like it in the Geoscience community. This YP program matches young people with the leading experts in our field in a mentor-mentee relationship.
Global Connect – The YP groups strives to have a representative in every GRSS Region who is the officially contact point to reach out and engage all young Society members in the area.
Volunteering – The IEEE Volunteering Platform is now an online resource for YP members to find volunteer activities in their area or at upcoming conferences. Members can also advertise on the platform is they are in need of volunteers to help with a particular effort.
For 2026 the YP Group is co-chaired by Matteo Ciotola in Italy and Haonan Guo in China. Ciotola is an assistant professor at the University of Naples Federico II, and Guo is a post-doc researcher at Wuhan University. They have teamed up to organize an impressive list of events for IGARSS 2026.
Ciotola is quick to point out that YP events are open to all and not necessarily age restricted: “The goal is improving communications skills and networking; it’s not about being young.”
IGARSS 2026 will be held at the Washington DC Convention Center in the downtown area of the city. All YP events will either be held inside the Center or nearby. It’s important to note the conference venue is conveniently served by its own Metro subway station.
Here are the YP events scheduled so far. Please check the IGARSS website for specific locations, but also be aware that most activities require advanced registration due to limited space.
YP Mixer, Tuesday, August 11 from 6:30 PM–8:30 PM at Pinstripes Bowling Alley at 1064 Wisconsin Ave. This event sells out every year, and it is one of the few with a fee of $25 for students and $50 for non-students. It will be a great opportunity to enjoy a buffet dinner while challenging your colleagues from around the world to a game of bowling.
Presentation Skills Workshop, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm in Room J. Led by an expert speaker, this workshop is designed to help attendees present their research before live audiences. From slide preparation to speaking tips, this workshop is crucial to career advancement. Seating will be very limited.
Three Minute Thesis, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1:30 pm in Room Jay – From dozens of submitted videos, the IGARSS judges will select 10 finalists to describe their research equipped with only three minutes and one slide. The winner will be selected on a combination of speaking skills and research quality.
YP Membership to Leadership, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 3:30 pm in Room Jay. Organizations like GRSS do not grow unless the younger members step to assume leadership roles. This seminar will provide an overview of all the volunteer positions available in GRSS and how YP members can fill them. This year, one objective is for the YP group to gain additional Ambassadors all over the world.
YP How to Publish Your Research, Thursday, Aug. 13, 1:30 pm – 3 pm in Kalorama Room – This workshop will help YP members gain a better understanding of how to publish their research in an academic journal. From selecting the appropriate publication and submitting an abstract to writing the first draft and formatting the final submission, this seminar is critical for students as they move forward in their academic careers.
For more information on these events at IGARSS 2026, visit 2026.ieeeigarss.org/ .
