The 2026 Sierra conference will take place this year from Sunday, August 2 to Wednesday, August 5 at Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Yosemite National Park! The conference brings together graduate students from all University of California campuses, whose research falls under any subfield of astronomy. The Sierra conference is an opportunity to share your research, connect with your peers across campuses and discuss your experience of being an astronomer and a graduate student within the UC system. Following the decades' old tradition, the agenda will consist of a balanced mixture of informal science discussions with camping, stargazing and other outdoor activities.

In 2026, the PIs for the Sierra conference are Emmy Wisz (UC Merced) and Leonardo Clarke (UCLA). The funding is generously provided by the University of California Observatories. See photos from the 2025 Sierra conference in Hodgdon Meadows, Yosemite! Learn more about the history of the Sierra conference.

  • The conference is open to all graduate students within the UC system.
  • This is a camping conference, which means that participants must be prepared to spend multiple nights outdoors and bring the necessary camping gear and food with them. Please see the "Packing List" page for suggestions.
  • We strive to offer the best experience to all attendees regardless of their prior wilderness experience. If you are unsure how to prepare yourself for the conference or are unable to obtain essential equipment, please do not hesitate to reach out to conference organizers for advice.
  • The conference will take place at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Yosemite National Park. See the "Directions" page for more details. The campground is furthest from UC San Diego and closest to UC Merced, being approximately 8.5 and 3 hours' drive respectively. The campground is situated at the elevation of 8600 ft (2600 m).
  • Check in will open on Sunday August 2 at 2:00 pm. Participants are encouraged to plan their arrival at the campground early enough to set up camp by nightfall. During the conference, the Sun will be setting at roughly 8 pm.

  • Registration for the conference will be open between June 19 and July 24. Click here to register.
  • The campground capacity of 40. If the number of registrations exceeds the number of available spaces, candidates will be placed on a waitlist, and spots will be given in the order that participants registered.
  • All approved registrants will be notified no later than July 24.
  • The conference will have an informal poster session. We require all participants to submit a poster, featuring a brief biography of the author and an excerpt from their present or past research in the field of astronomy.
  • In order to make the poster preparation process less time-consuming, a LaTeX template for Sierra conference posters will be provided. Click here to download the template for your campus.
  • Registrations without posters may be considered upon special request, e.g., if the participant is a new student and has not carried out any research work.
  • Poster submission will be open between June 19 and July 24. Click here to upload your poster.
  • Unfortunately, late poster submissions cannot be accepted, since a finalized version of the conference booklet will be expected by the print shop shortly after the submission deadline.

  • The conference does not have a registration fee. All participants will be provided with campsites.
  • Generous funding from UCO should be sufficient to cover travel expenses for conference participants, namely gas and park entrance fees. In the event that there is not sufficient funding leftover from conference expenses to reimburse travel, the remaining funds will be distributed based on distance traveled. If possible, the attendees are encouraged to seek reimbursements of their travel expenses (including food and fuel) from their home departments.
  • To minimize both travel expenses and the environmental impact of the conference, attendees are strongly encouraged to carpool.

  • The temperature in the area at the time of the conference may fall anywhere between 33 ˚F and 70 ˚F (1 ˚C and 21 ˚C). Rain and snow in August are unlikely but possible. We strongly encourage all participants to prepare themselves for the entire range of possible conditions and to check the weather forecast prior to arrival. Stargazing activities will take place after dusk if the sky is sufficiently clear. Note that the perceived temperature may be as many as 20 ˚F (10 ˚C) colder than the actual air temperature when exposed to the clear sky for an extended period of time without moving around.
  • Fire restrictions may be imposed at the time during the conference. Portable stoves are normally allowed; however, up-to-date fire restrictions will be communicated to registered participants before the conference. While not strictly necessary, participants are encouraged to obtain the free California Campfire Permit prior to their arrival.
  • Black bears do frequent the Yosemite area. All participants must familiarize themselves with the official guidance on bear-aware food storage. The campground is equipped with food lockers where all scented items must be placed when not in use, including food and toiletries, regardless of packaging.
  • Please refer to the Park Service advice on general safety and wildlife conservation tips.