UNC Water & Health Conference

Early Bird Price (May 8-June 30, 2026):

Full Week $800

Two-Day $450

One-Day $200

Regular Price (July 1 - Oct. 25, 2026):

Sponsor $450

Full Week $850

Two Day $500

One Day: $150

Active Student Prices

Please note that discount codes are reserved for currently enrolled students. A valid student ID will be required at check-in. Attendees who cannot provide a valid student ID will be required to pay the full registration fee.

• Active Student Full Week $425 discount code: WHC26STUDENTWEEK
• Active Student Two-Day $250 discount code: WHC2026STUDENT2
• Active Student One-Day $125 discount code: WHC2026STUDENT1

Absolutely! We look forward to hosting you in Chapel Hill this October.

It’s a good idea to start now. You can send us an email at waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu if you need a letter before registration opens on June 2, 2026.

You can book accommodation at a partner hotel using the special reservation links provided on the 2026 UNC Water and Health Conference website. You can book non-partner hotels using these links: Fairfield Inn & Suites Durham Southpoint, Hyatt Place Durham/Southpoint, Tru by Hilton Chapel Hill, Residence Inn Chapel Hill, Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel, AC Hotel Chapel Hill Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill – Carrboro/Downtown, Graduate Chapel Hill, The Carolina Inn – Destination by Hyatt.

You can get to your accommodation by taxi or Uber. Taxis can be booked on-demand from the airport, or you can pre-arrange taxi transport before you commence your journey. Possible taxi companies you could consider are RDU Taxi and Raleigh Durham Transportation LLC. For the Uber service, you can download the Uber application in your home country before travel and can try to connect to the airport free Wi-Fi to book the service.

Yes. Many of our sessions will also be offered online through the Virtual Conference Program, including plenaries and selected side events. All sessions listed as virtual will be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing.

There is no set deadline to register, but if you need to cancel your registration, please let us know at least four weeks before the conference so we can make the necessary arrangements, including with the venue. If you pay by credit card and cancel by September 28, 2026 (11:59 PM EST), you'll receive a full refund. Cancellations made on or after September 29, 2026, will incur a $50 cancellation fee, and the rest of your payment will be refunded.

All conference participants are responsible for funding 100% of their conference costs, including registration, travel, accommodation, and other logistics. If you are unable to cover these costs, you are encouraged to request support from your employer. We also highly encourage you to apply for an Emerging Voices grant, should you be eligible.

Yes, if you register for two days and decide to stay for an extra day, there will be an additional fee for that day, and for any other extra days you choose to attend the conference.

We recommend reaching out to the conference organizing team to make your request. They’ll do their best to accommodate you where possible, but please note that changes aren’t guaranteed.

Credit card, checks, and bank wires. Please contact the Water Institute at waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu for details, if you need to pay via bank wire. Kindly inform the Water Institute at waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu when you mail a check, so we can expect it.

Credit card, checks, and cash are available on arrival. Please inform the Water Institute at waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu when you mail a check, so we can expect it.

Not to worry if you haven’t registered yet. When you arrive at the Conference, just head to the “Unregistered/Unpaid” line. From there, if you’re paying by cash or check, join the cash payment line; if you're using a credit card, go to the credit card line. To save time and avoid delays at check-in, we highly recommend registering and paying in advance if you can.

Unfortunately, you cannot defer your Emerging Voices Grant to the following year.

Sorry to hear you can’t make it. Refunds follow the UNC Water and Health Conference Refund Policy. If you let us know by email (waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu) at least four weeks before the conference, we can adjust with the venue. Cancel by September 28, 2026 (11:59 PM EST) for a full refund if you paid by credit card. After that, a $50 cancellation fee applies, and the rest will be refunded.

If your visa is denied, just send us proof by email (waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu) and we’ll waive your registration fee. If you haven’t paid yet, please go ahead and cancel your registration. If you’ve already paid, let us know as soon as possible with the documentation so we can refund you without a cancellation fee.

Please let the conference organizers know as soon as possible by emailing waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu so your spot can be given to the next best scored abstract on the waiting list. Presentation and grants are made available annually and cannot be applied to successive years.

You’re still very welcome to join virtually, though! You can register for the online conference once virtual registration opens on the UNC Water and Health Conference website.

Your abstract is due for submission by May 15, 2026, by 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

You can submit your abstract through the Abstract portal.

The word limit is 500 words.

You can refer to the Abstract Rubric for Water and Health Conference.

If your abstract is accepted, you’ll receive an email with the date and time of your presentation from the Conference organizing team (waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu). Abstracts are reviewed through a double-blind peer review process, and successful applicants will be asked to confirm their attendance and begin travel arrangements. Keep an eye on your inbox.

No, you won’t be assigned both. Your abstract was upgraded to a verbal presentation when a space for a verbal presentation became available. We offer high-scoring posters the chance to present verbally when a space opens up and the presenter indicated interest in either format on their registration form.

Yes, if the co-author was mentioned in the submitted abstract and registered (or registers) for the Conference.

Yes, you need to register to confirm your place. All in-person participants are required to make payment to access the Conference.

Unfortunately, virtual presentations aren’t possible. If a co-author can present on your behalf, please let the organizers know (waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu). If no one is available, your place will be offered to the next highest-scoring abstract.

A PowerPoint template is available upon request, but it is not required. Please upload your presentation in your session room at least 15 minutes before your session starts. You are expected to stay within your allotted time and bring a backup copy of your presentation on a USB drive. Closer to the conference, a link will be shared for those who wish to upload their presentations in advance.

A Side Event is a standalone session held alongside the main conference program, designed to dive deeper into a specific topic or create space for more interactive engagement. At the UNC Water & Health Conference, side events typically:

• Run 1.5 to 3 hours
• Are organized by participants and co-convenors
• Focus on targeted topics, emerging research, or practical challenges
• Often include workshops, trainings, panels, or collaborative discussions

Unlike standard conference presentations, side events are usually more interactive and flexible—giving organizers the chance to convene a specific audience, test ideas, share tools, or build partnerships in a more focused setting. Side events cannot be hosted virtually.

Submit a side event proposal.

Side event proposals are due on June 5, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

You will receive an email from the Conference Organizing Team informing you of your selection. Keep an eye out for an email from the waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu.

Unfortunately, side events must be led in person. However, you may include virtual presenters. Please ensure virtual presenter details are sent to the Water Institute (waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu or contact us form) in advance so they can be granted appropriate access to the Zoom platform.

All approved side event organizers will be invited to an online information session with tips on hosting a successful event.

No problem! A link to the session recording and a PDF of the presentation will be emailed to all approved side event contacts. We strongly encourage side event organizers to review these materials.

The Emerging Voices Grant supports emerging researchers and practitioners in sharing their work and engaging with the broader water and health community. A number of grants are awarded, with priority given to applicants presenting at the Conference from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and those demonstrating financial need. The grant waives conference registration fees. Lodging support may also be provided on a case-by-case basis.

Learn More.

The Emerging Voices Grant uses a phased submission process with two application deadlines:

• Early Action Deadline: July 1, 2026
• Final Deadline: August 1, 2026

Applicants who need earlier confirmation for travel, visa arrangements, or institutional approvals are encouraged to apply during the Early Action round.

Emerging Voices grants are open to individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Students from low-, middle-, or high-income countries
• Unsponsored practitioners from low- and middle-income countries
• Independent consultants from low- and middle-income countries.

Applicants are encouraged to explore additional funding opportunities to support travel expenses, as grants do not typically cover full costs. Students are also advised to check with their academic institutions for other available scholarships or awards.

Emerging Voices Grant decisions will be released in two phases based on the submission round:

• Early Action applicants (those who applied by July 1, 2026) will receive decisions by July 31, 2026
• Final round applicants (those who applied by July 31, 2026) will receive decisions by August 31, 2026.

The phased timeline was introduced to better support international attendees and others who may need earlier confirmation to coordinate travel, visa applications, or institutional approvals.

Selected applicants will receive an email from the UNC Water Institute team with the award notification and grantees must provide confirmation of acceptance within two weeks of receiving award notification.