Call for Volunteers for AOS 2026

We are looking for a dedicated group of volunteers to help make AOS 2026, the American Ornithological Society (AOS) meeting this summer in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA, a spectacular success! This year all of the volunteer positions will be in-person at the conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 3–7 August 2026. Volunteers will need to be conversationally fluent in English as almost all tasks will require some communication in English.

Volunteers must be planning to attend the conference in-person and will be expected to work 10 hours (includes any training sessions, pre-conference remote volunteering, and/or in-person volunteering) in exchange for $120 off of the registration fee. In-person volunteers will be given the opportunity to choose their own volunteer schedule during the conference, based on available tasks.

PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE UNTIL YOU’VE BEEN CONTACTED BY THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR.

Below is a summary of the opportunities available for volunteers:

• Providing in-person tech support during the conference. Training will be provided at the conference.
• Assisting with registration, conference help desk, and selling merchandise. Training will be provided at the conference.
• Providing in-person guidance for fun run/walk/ride participants.
• Provide assistance with social and networking events including but not limited to room set-up and breakdown, facilitating participants, and providing tech support.
• Assist with student affairs events 
• Additional in-person or remote volunteer opportunities may arise as we near the conference dates.

Volunteers must be 18 years or older, students (undergraduate, graduate, between terminal degrees) and early professionals (within five years of terminal degree) will be given priority for assignments. Professionals more than five years from their terminal degree are still encouraged to apply, and we will contact you if positions need to be filled.

This opportunity is open to all members of the ornithology community. You do not need to be a presenter at the conference or a current member to volunteer. In appreciation for the commitment of their time, all volunteers will be acknowledged formally as members of the AOS 2026 Volunteer Committee.

For further questions please email meeting@americanornithology.org.