Know Before You Go
Below is some helpful information regarding the EEID 2026 Conference.
LOCATION
Please refer to the EEID website and the conference agenda for location specifics.
WI-FI
To connect to Wi-Fi on campus, choose the VT Open Wi-Fi Network. No passcode is needed. Eduroam is also widely available.
AGENDA
A detailed agenda can be found on the conference website.
CONFERENCE CHECK-IN
Conference check-in and name tag pickup will be available from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, June 1, in the Presidential Suite at the University Club of Virginia Tech, located in Lane Stadium. Check-in will reopen on Tuesday, June 2, at 7:45 am in the Graduate Life Center (GLC) hallway outside the auditorium and will remain there for the remainder of the conference. Attendees must check in and wear their name tags to gain access to conference offerings.
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
The most economical option for traveling from the ROA airport to Blacksburg is using the SmartWay Bus (to Maroon Loop stop), which costs $4 one way. Note that only cash is accepted, and change is not given. Because bus service is not available in the late evening, we are offering complimentary shuttles (first-come, first-served) from ROA to Blacksburg at 9:00 PM and 11:30 PM. Caution: Due to the long distance (45-minute drive) between the airport and Virginia Tech, rideshare from the airport to campus can be very expensive ($100-$200 one-way) or entirely unavailable.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
A complete list of posters and abstracts is available online. Posters should be set up on the day of the presentation and should be no larger than 44” x 44”.
HIKES
Participants will have images on their name tags indicating their Wednesday afternoon hike, and should wear them when boarding buses. Due to transportation limitations and participant caps on permits, we cannot accommodate changes to hike registrations. Hikes depart at different times from different locations - see webpage for complete table.
T-SHIRTS
If you ordered a conference t-shirt, it will be available for pickup at the registration desk in the Graduate Life Center starting Tuesday afternoon. T-shirts are not for sale at the conference and are available only for those who purchased in advance.
WEATHER
Blacksburg weather in early June is highly variable, but nighttime temps are typically considerably cooler than daytime highs. Hike locations can be up to 10 F cooler than Blacksburg temperatures, so packing a light layer is advisable. Because campus venues are a 30-minute walk from some hotels and many of our activities are outdoors, we also suggest packing a light rain jacket or umbrella. We recommend checking the forecast before you depart. Conference rooms can also sometimes be chilly, so we recommend bringing a sweater or jacket.
LOCAL PARKING
Virginia Tech employees and students must park in their designated areas and display a current university parking permit. For visitors, guests, and non-VT participants attending the EEID Conference, the university offers several parking options on the Blacksburg campus. You can use ParkMobile, a convenient contactless parking payment system that lets you pay for hourly or daily parking directly from your phone, or purchase a daily parking permit online or in person at Parking Services, located at 505 Beamer Way, Blacksburg, VA.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Conference hotels are located 1 mile (Hyatt, Residence Inn, 23 min walk), and 1.4 miles (Home2Suites, 30 min walk) from the main venue, the Virginia Tech Graduate Life Center (GLC). The BT bus service (Blacksburg Transit) – schedule & routes provides fare-free public transportation around campus and throughout Blacksburg for all riders. Multiple routes serve conference hotels, with buses leaving every 15-20 minutes. The BT Transit app provides real-time bus tracking and availability.
VT ALERTS
Safety is a shared team responsibility. Please sign up for VT alerts to receive emergency notifications from Virginia Tech. The EEID Leadership team will provide instructions in case of an emergency, but this system is the best way for campus visitors to stay informed.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please bring a refillable water bottle. Water refill stations will be available throughout the conference, but to reduce single-use plastics, bottled water will not be provided.
Light hors d’oeuvres will be offered at the opening reception at the University Club of Virginia Tech on Monday evening. Coffee breaks will be provided by the conference from Tuesday through Thursday in the Graduate Life Center (GLC) Multipurpose Room. Lunch will be provided under a large tent on nearby Eggleston Lawn. Dinner will be provided on Wednesday during the Eggleston Lawn Party, and a reception-style banquet with heavy hors d’oeuvres will be held on Thursday at the German Club. Dinner on Monday and Tuesday is on your own.
Each conference participant will receive 4 drink tickets, redeemable for alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages, for the following events: one ticket for the welcome reception, two tickets for the lawn party, and one ticket for the closing banquet. Additional drinks for purchase by credit card will be available at the welcome reception and banquet.
UNABLE TO ATTEND
If you are unable to attend, please notify Registration at cpeinfo@vt.edu
CONTACT US
If you need additional information prior to the event, please contact Michelle Carter at miche09@vt.edu. For assistance during the event, please contact Kate Langwig, Joseph Hoyt, or Dana Hawley at eeid2026@vt.edu.