American Association of Geographers – San Francisco – 17–21 March 2026
Promoting excellence in Geographic Information Science ‑ from innovative methods to real‑world applications
About the Competition
The Geographic Information Science and Systems Specialty Group (GISS‑SG) of the AAG welcomes submissions for the 2026 Student Honors Paper Competition. This annual event promotes scholarship and professional presentation skills among undergraduate and graduate students working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geographic Information Science (GIScience). Papers may address theoretical, conceptual or methodological developments, or describe innovative applications of GIS to solve real‑world problems. The work should be original and completed while the lead author is a student. Co‑authored papers are welcome as long as the student is the first author and principal contributor.
Inclusivity and Diversity
Enhancing diversity, promoting inclusion and broadening participation in geography are central to the AAG mission. We strongly encourage submissions from women and students who are part of groups under‑represented in the geographical sciences. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or require accommodations.
Important Dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 30 Oct 2025 | AAG abstract submission deadline – submit a short abstract via the AAG portal to obtain your abstract PIN |
| 7 Nov 2025 | Extended abstract (~1000 words, ≤ 5 pages) and AAG abstract PIN due to Dr. Sisi Wang |
| 22 Nov 2025 | Notification of finalists (both undergraduate and graduate students) |
| 14 Feb 2026 | Graduate student finalists: full paper due; undergraduate finalists: no full paper required |
Awards & Prizes
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| First place | $500 (USD) |
| Second place | $250 (USD) |
| Finalists | Recognition on the GISS‑SG website, AAG Newsletter and social media |
Eligibility & Judging
Who may enter
The competition is open to current undergraduate and graduate students in any field as long as the paper advances GIScience. Papers must not have been previously published or presented. There is no limit on co-authors, but the student applicant must be the first author and must present the paper. Each paper may be entered in only one AAG specialty group competition. Applicants must be members of the GISS-SG; membership can be added to your AAG registration. If you have questions about membership please contact the AAG.
Judging criteria
Extended abstracts, full papers and oral presentations are evaluated by the GISS-SG Awards Committee on the following criteria: potential contribution to GIScience, originality, methodological soundness, scholarship, logical organisation and quality of written composition. Presentations are judged on professional delivery, clarity, effective use of graphics and organisation. Judges will take into account the academic level (undergraduate/graduate) of each entrant.
Submission Guidelines
Extended Abstract
Your extended abstract should be about 1000 words and no longer than five pages (including figures but excluding references). Please format the document using 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins and single-spaced lines. Clearly indicate in the header that the submission is for the GISS-SG Student Paper Competition. Attach the abstract as a Microsoft Word or PDF file in an e-mail to Dr. Sisi Wang with the subject line “GISS Competition – your name – Grad/Undergrad”. Include your AAG abstract PIN obtained via the AAG submission portal. Abstracts will be reviewed by the committee to select finalists.
Full Paper (graduate finalists only)
Graduate student finalists must submit a full paper of 4000-6000 words (approximately 20 double-spaced pages including text, references, figures and tables). The paper should follow the formatting of the International Journal of Geographical Information Science. Include a cover page with the author(s) name(s), student status, academic affiliation, faculty advisor, mailing address and contact information. The second page should contain only the title and a 250-word abstract; the main text begins on page three. Submit your paper electronically (Word or PDF) to Dr. Sisi Wang by 14 February 2026.
Contact
All submissions and enquiries should be sent to:
Dr. Siqin (Sisi) Wang
Academic Director, Geographic Information Science and Systems Specialty Group
Associate Professor, Spatial Sciences Institute, University of Southern California
Email: siqinwan@usc.edu
For information about GISS-SG membership, please visit the AAG website or contact the AAG directly. We also encourage you to follow the GISS-SG on social media for updates and announcements.
© 2025 GISS-SG Specialty Group, American Association of Geographers. All rights reserved.