2025 NAS Annual Meeting

Frequently Asked Questions about the Annual Meeting

The 162nd NAS Annual Meeting will include both in-person and virtual components. Virtual section meetings will be held the week of April 14, 2025. In-person events will be held from April 25 through April 27 in Washington, DC. Additional online sessions will be held on April 29, 2025. We hope you will find this list of frequently asked questions useful as you make your attendance plans. If you have questions about any aspect of the meeting, please contact us at annual@nas.edu or 202.334.2444.

Where is the meeting held? What transportation will be available?
Most annual meeting events will take place in the National Academy of Sciences Building, located at 2101 Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC. Sunday morning sessions will take place at the Fairmont Washington Hotel (2401 M Street NW). The National Portrait Gallery will be the location of this year's NAS President's Dinner. Shuttle bus transportation will be provided between the Fairmont Hotel and the NAS Building, and between the hotel and the President's Dinner.

Please note that using the 2101 Constitution Avenue address as a drop-off location will require a long walk with stairs to navigate. The best address when using taxis/Ubers is: 256 21st Street NW.

Is parking available at the NAS Building? What entrance should I use?
Limited parking is available for meeting participants in the visitors parking area of the NAS Building. Parking is provided on a first-come basis. The parking area entrance is on 21st Street, but currently, due to construction, it can only be accessed via Virginia Avenue — the Constitution Avenue intersection is closed for northbound travel. Please use the following address in GPS:  256 21st Street NW. (This information is subject to change, as construction updates are provided.)

The NAS Building has a ramp at the C Street entrance and an elevator at the Constitution Avenue entrance to accommodate wheelchairs and those who prefer to avoid stairs.

Information for New Members Elected in 2024

When should I plan to arrive?
We strongly encourage you to attend the orientation session and lunch for new members on Friday morning, April 25. These sessions are meant for newly elected members only. Please dress comfortably for the morning and lunch sessions. New members will have time to return to the hotels after the orientation lunch. Additional events in your honor, including the induction ceremony, are scheduled for late Friday afternoon through the evening.

What is the dress code for the Presentation Ceremony?
Members being inducted into the NAS should wear business attire. Please note that tuxedos would not be appropriate attire for this event.

How many guests may I bring to the Presentation Ceremony? Where will I be seated? May I sit with my guests? Which sessions can my guests attend?
Registration is required to attend the Presentation Ceremony. Members can register a limited number of guests for the annual meeting. Seating in the Fred Kavli Auditorium is limited and will be available on a first-seated basis. In most years, the auditorium is able to accommodate all who attend. Overflow seating with live viewing will be available for guests who cannot be seated in the Fred Kavli Auditorium. The Kavli Auditorium will open for general seating at approximately 6:00 p.m., and the ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m.

A special reception hosted by the Academy's Council in honor of members elected in 2024 will be held prior to the Induction Ceremony. This is a ticketed event and registration is required. Registration will open in January. After the Council Reception, new members will be directed to a reserved section of the Kavli Auditorium. Guests of new members attending the pre-ceremony Council Reception will not be seated with the new members. Instead, there will be a reserved section in the auditorium for those guests. All other registered guests will be seated in the general seating section of the auditorium on a first-seated basis.

After the Induction Ceremony, a general welcome reception will be held in which light refreshments will be served. Registered guests who attend the Induction Ceremony may attend this post-ceremony reception.

Members who were elected before 2024 and who wish to be inducted at this year's meeting must contact the NAS Membership Staff at annual@nas.edu to be added to the induction ceremony schedule. Additional details regarding the new member events, including registration information, will be provided in January.

Guest attendance depends on the registration category of the guest. For example, guests registered as 'full meeting' guests can attend most meeting events including the Garden Party. This registration category will incur a meeting fee. Guests who are registered for Friday evening activities only (Presentation Ceremony and the post-ceremony reception) can only attend those events, without a fee. However, all guests must be registered including those only attending the Presentation Ceremony and post-ceremony reception. To attend only the Sunday Garden Party and Awards Ceremony, guests should be registered as Garden Party guests. To attend optional events such as the President's Dinner or the Breaking Barriers session, guests must be registered for the full meeting. Members may only register up to 10 guests. Details regarding the registration categories and fees will be announced in January.

Information for International Members

Are any special events planned for international members?
Yes! We will hold a special breakfast for the international members, hosted by International Secretary John Hildebrand. Additional details will be provided in January.

Can the NAS help with questions about visas?
As a standard part of the visa process, the U.S. State Department now requires that consular officers interview almost every applicant. Some consulates may have a long wait for an interview; applicants should contact the consulate to schedule an interview as early as possible. Also, many visa applications are sent to the State Department in Washington, DC to be reviewed by several agencies. Because of the number of visa applications and the need for thorough security reviews, the process can be lengthy. We advise international travelers to apply for their visas as early as possible. Information to assist you in the visa application process is available on our web site at https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/international-visitors-office.

General Meeting Information

What are the registration fees?
Registration will launch in mid-January and details regarding the registration policy will be available at that time. Pre-registration will be available until April 16. Once pre-registration closes, members can register onsite beginning on April 25.

What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be received by Wednesday, April 16 to receive a full refund. Please email annual@nas.edu regarding any registration questions.

Which sessions and events are open to guests?
Guests who are registered for the full meeting may attend all sessions and events except those listed as "invitation only" or "members only" on the annual meeting schedule. Guests who are registered for the full meeting may also purchase tickets for the optional Breaking Barriers luncheon and President's Dinner (additional fees apply, with limited tickets). Separate communications will be sent to members and guests invited to special "invitation only" sessions or events.

To attend the President's Dinner, guests must be registered for the full meeting. Because this event has seating limits, the policy ensures that guests who are registered to attend the full meeting will have the opportunity to attend this event.

What events are not covered in my registration fee?
The Saturday Breaking Barriers luncheon and President's Dinner are not included in the registration fee and require additional fees.

What is the Garden Party, and what is the appropriate attire?
The Garden Party will be held on the Academy grounds on Sunday afternoon, April 27, and is considered one of the highlights of the annual meeting. The dress code is business casual.

What is the President's Dinner, and what is the appropriate attire?
The President's Dinner, hosted by NAS President Marcia McNutt, will be held on Saturday, April 26 at the National Portrait Gallery. The evening will start with a reception followed by dinner and dancing. The dress code for this event is black-tie optional. Transportation will be provided from the Fairmont Washington Hotel and the NAS Constitution Avenue Building before and after the event. Each table will seat 10 guests. Members will have the opportunity to select seats in advance once they have registered. An email will be sent to members with details on the seat selection process in March. President's Dinner seating will be made available based on the date of registration completion. We encourage members to register early.
Local members who would like to park at the Keck Center should contact annual@nas.edu.

Who should I contact regarding dietary restrictions?
Any dietary restrictions and food allergies should be noted on the registration form. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at annual@nas.edu

Live Webcasts and Social Media Information

Can I watch events online?
Many events will be webcast live on our website for family members, colleagues, and friends who are unable to attend in person. Additional details will be provided once registration opens. Please spread the word about the webcasts and encourage your friends and family to join the celebration online.

Can I send congratulatory messages to newly inducted members, award winners, and newly elected members?
Yes! Please join us in congratulating the members elected in 2024, 2025 award winners, and the newly elected members to be announced for 2025. Follow the NAS on X, Facebook and Instagram to join the annual meeting conversation using #NAS162.

 

For answers to questions not listed above, please contact us at annual@nas.edu or 202.334.2444.