UNC Water & Health Conference

• Sponsor $450.00
• Active Student $450.00
• Regular Attendance $800.00
• Two Day Attendance $400.00

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 a travel scholarship and other available scholarships if you need additional support.

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 Travel Scholarship 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 so your spot can be given to the next best scored abstract on the waiting list (waterinstitute@sph.unc.edu). Presentation and scholarships are made available annually. You’re still very welcome to join virtually! 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.

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.

A Travel Scholarship provides financial assistance to participants who would otherwise be unable to attend the 2026 UNC Water and Health Conference. These scholarships are awarded based on need and availability and are not guaranteed for all applicants. When granted, they typically cover part of the Conference costs, such as registration or accommodation, but do not usually cover the full expenses of attending.

Travel Scholarships 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, and independent consultants from low- and middle-income countries. Applicants are encouraged to explore additional funding opportunities to support travel expenses, as Travel Scholarships do not typically cover full costs. Students are also advised to check with their academic institutions for other available scholarships or awards.

Travel Scholarship decisions will be announced at the beginning of September 2026. Successful applicants will receive an email from the UNC Water Institute team detailing the type of scholarship awarded and requesting confirmation of acceptance. We encourage all applicants to regularly check their email for updates and further communication from the 2026 UNC Water and Health Conference team.

Yes, your registration will remain valid, and you can wait for the scholarship results before making payment. Just be sure to complete payment before attending the conference.