9:00 a.m.

2025 Pre-Conference Short Courses
These half- or full-day events offer diverse professional development opportunities and allow attendees to connect with scholars from various backgrounds. Sponsored by APSA Organized Sections, Related Groups, and other affiliated organizations, all short courses require pre-registration.

6:30 p.m.

Reception Honoring the 2025 APSA Award Recipients (Invitation Only)
The reception honors the 2025 APSA Award recipients for their contributions to the discipline. This event is invitation only. See the APSA Awards page for awardees and committee members.

Location: Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Pinnacle I & II

7:00 a.m.

APSA First-Time Attendee and New Member Breakfast
New members are invited to connect with other first-time attendees and new members over breakfast. Meet association leaders and learn how to make the most of your APSA experience. An RSVP is required for this event.

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), West Level 1 – West Ballroom D

9:30 a.m.

iPoster and Poster Sessions
Check out visual presentations covering topics such as immigration, Middle East politics, democracy and autocracy, and more. View online gallery

10:00 a.m.

APSA Presidential Task Force on Democratic Innovation
This roundtable will bring together several members of the APSA Presidential Task Force on Democratic Innovation (sponsored by Mark Warren 2024 APSA president) to discuss and share findings and research that will go into the Task Force’s final report.

Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), West Level 1 – West Ballroom A

12:00 p.m.

APSA All-Member Business Meeting
All APSA members are encouraged to attend the APSA General Membership Meeting, the official business meeting of the Association. This event is an opportunity for members to learn about the business of the Association and express their views. Participants can also join via a virtual meeting invite.

Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), West Level 1 – West 119

4:00 p.m.

Annual Career Open House

The Career Open House is an opportunity for APSA members to connect with departments, institutions, and organizations for informational and informal discussions about jobs in political science, and other careers that draw on political science training, both on campus and in applied/non-academic settings. Learn more

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Pinnacle I & II

4:00 p.m.

Disability in Political Science: A Survey of the Profession

This roundtable brings together scholars to discuss findings from a recent survey on disability within the political science profession. Panelists will explore the challenges, experiences, and institutional barriers faced by disabled political scientists, as well as opportunities for inclusion, accessibility, and advocacy in academic and professional settings. The session aims to foster dialogue on building a more equitable discipline and advancing support for scholars with disabilities across career stages.

5:30 p.m.

APSA Mentoring and Networking Reception

Join APSA for an informal reception designed to foster mentoring and networking across all career stages. Whether you’re a graduate student, early-career scholar, or senior professional, this event offers a welcoming space to make connections, exchange advice, and build lasting professional relationships within the political science community.

7:30 p.m.

APSA Reception Honoring Women in the Profession

All attendees are welcome to join in honoring the leadership, scholarship, and impact of women of color across the discipline.

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Pinnacle III

8:30 p.m.

International Attendee Reception

APSA invites all international attendees from outside North America to this special reception as a welcome to Vancouver and the annual meeting.

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Point Grey

8:00 a.m.

APSA Oral History Project Screening: Film Showcase

Kick off the day with the first installment of APSA’s Oral History Project screenings. This session features compelling interviews with political scientists reflecting on their personal and professional journeys. Gain insights into the evolution of the discipline through stories that highlight mentorship, scholarship, and institutional change. View showing times

Additional Screening Times

• Screening 2 – 10:00–11:30am
• Screening 3 – 2:00–3:30pm
• Screening 4 – 4:00–5:30pm

8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Department Chairs’ Mini-Conference: “Political Science Departmental Leadership in Turbulent Times“

Political science departments face new challenges given the evolving US political climate. Join us for the 2025 Department Chairs Mini-Conference focused on leading a political science department during turbulent times. Each roundtable will feature department leaders from diverse institutional types and geographic regions. Suitable for new and current Department leaders, the 2025 Department Chairs’ Mini-Conference and Luncheon explores political science departmental leadership in a changing higher education landscape, offers support to department chairs, graduate directors, and undergraduate directors, and provides professional networking opportunities. The mini-conference theme is “Political Science Departmental Leadership in Turbulent Times.” View mini-conference schedule

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT

Virtual Graduate School Information Fair

Political science graduate programs are invited to send a departmental representative to speak with undergraduate students, recent graduates and professionals who want to attend graduate school. Register your Department | Students RSVP here

10:00 a.m.

Artificial Intelligence and Political Science: How Should the Field Grapple with the Massive Technological Disruption and Opportunity?

APSA President Taeku Lee’s Presidential Task Force: Artificial Intelligence and Political Science: How Should the Field Grapple with the Massive Technological Disruption and Opportunity?
Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), East Meeting Level – East 14

10:00 a.m.

Author Meets Critics: Jacob Abolafia, “The Prison before the Panopticon”

This Author Meets Critics session features Jacob Abolafia’s The Prison before the Panopticon: Incarceration in Ancient and Modern Political Philosophy (Harvard University Press, 2024), a groundbreaking exploration of penal thought from classical antiquity to modernity. The book traces the philosophical roots of imprisonment through figures like Demosthenes, Plato, Hobbes, and Bentham, interrogating the paradoxes of popular authorization and the promise of rehabilitation. Panelists will approach the book from diverse critical and historical perspectives, engaging its relevance to contemporary debates on incarceration, restorative justice, and prison abolition.

Critics include: Alison McQueen (Stanford), Jonny Thakkar (Swarthmore)
Author Response: Jacob Abolafia (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)

2:00 p.m.

APSA Member Appreciation Reception 

APSA is excited to host our Annual Member Appreciation Reception, dedicated to recognizing and celebrating member contributions.

VCC, APSA Lounge (Exhibit Hall A) 

2:00 p.m.

Ithiel de Sola Pool Award Lecture 
Pan Pacific Vancouver, Pacific Rim 2 

4:00 p.m.

APSA Committee on the Status of Graduate Students in the Profession Roundtable

This roundtable, hosted by the APSA Committee on the Status of Graduate Students in the Profession, will address the evolving needs, challenges, and opportunities facing graduate students in political science. Panelists will discuss key issues such as professional development, mentorship, mental health, funding, and navigating the job market. The session aims to foster open dialogue and share resources to support graduate student success across diverse institutional contexts.

6:30 p.m.

Gaus Award Lecture: Climate Change, Governance Failures, and Public Administration 
Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), East Meeting Level – East 11 

7:30 p.m.

APSA Reception Honoring Women of Color in the Profession

All attendees are welcome to join in honoring the leadership, scholarship, and impact of women of color across the discipline.

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Point Grey 

7:30 p.m.

APSA Doctoral Dissertation Research Grantee Reception

All attendees are welcome to join in celebrating the accomplishments and promising research of APSA Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grantees. 

8:00 p.m.

Joint Reception of APSA Status Committees, Caucuses, and REP Organized Section

This reception is held annually and is co-sponsored by APSA Diversity and Inclusion Programs, the APSA Status Committees, the Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Latina/o Caucus, and the Race, Ethnicity and Politics Organized Section. Open to all.

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Pinnacle I & II

8:30 p.m.

International Attendee Reception

APSA invites all international attendees from outside North America to this special reception as a welcome to Vancouver and to the annual meeting.

7:30 a.m.

TLC at APSA Breakfast & Welcome

In keeping with the overall conference theme of “Reimagining Politics, Power, and Peoplehood in Crisis Times,” the 2025 TLC at APSA theme is “Teaching Politics, Power, and Peoplehood in Crisis Times.” We invite scholars to participate in the day-long program, which will feature workshops, panels, presentations, and networking opportunities for teacher-scholars. TLC at APSA aims to promote scholarly reflection and dissemination of tools, strategies, and pedagogical approaches that enable educators to develop and promote inclusive and democratic forms of political science pedagogy, civic literacy, and engagement, both in the classroom and the public sphere. View full TLC at APSA schedule

8:00 a.m.

Graduate Student Research Lightning Round: IR & Comparative

This dynamic lightning round spotlights emerging scholarship at the intersection of international relations and comparative politics. Graduate students present innovative research tackling global health diplomacy, geopolitical rivalry, and state power—from China’s pandemic outreach in Latin America and Japan’s coast guard diplomacy, to middle power strategies amid U.S.-China tensions. Presenters explore drivers of compliance in patron-client relations, the impact of intelligence on arms control, and the durability of sanctions tied to state ownership. Other projects examine patterns of refugee return, labor migration networks in South Asia, and constitution-building in the Métis Nation. Together, these concise presentations offer fresh insights into how domestic and international dynamics shape governance, security, and diplomacy. Learn more

Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), East Meeting Level – East 13 (V)

8:15 a.m.

The State of the Field of Political Science Education

Join this Teaching and Learning Workshop to explore current trends, challenges, and innovations in political science education. Led by Tavishi Bhasin (Kennesaw State University), the session will assess the evolving landscape of the discipline’s pedagogy and invite participants to reflect on best practices, student engagement, and the future of teaching political science in diverse academic settings.

10:00 a.m.

Graduate Student Research Lightning Round: Emerging Issues – Technology, Social Media, and Climate Change

This lightning round highlights cutting-edge graduate research on how digital technologies, misinformation, and climate change are reshaping global politics. Papers explore the effects of election misinformation on youth voters, the role of social media in deteriorating interstate relations, and how state narratives compete for influence online—including China’s strategic idol creation and cross-border repression. Climate-focused research addresses the intersection of health policy and environmental change, as well as the conflict potential of climate-induced migration. Additional work investigates China’s search for ontological security in maritime disputes and what drives digital payment adoption in Peru. These fast-paced presentations shed light on the evolving challenges and tools of modern governance. Learn more

Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), East Meeting Level – East 13

10:00 a.m.

Civically Engaged Research across Political Contexts: A Conversation on the Diversity of Forms of CER

This roundtable brings together scholars and practitioners to explore the diverse forms, practices, and challenges of civically engaged research (CER) across varying political contexts. Moderated by Stephanie Chan (Lafayette College) and Rosalie Rubio (APSA), the conversation will highlight how researchers are engaging communities, navigating institutional structures, and shaping scholarship that advances both academic inquiry and public impact. Attendees will gain insights into how CER is evolving as a powerful mode of political science research and community collaboration.

10:00 a.m.

Poster Session: Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI) Scholars

This poster session highlights original research by undergraduate scholars from the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI), a premier pipeline program for students interested in pursuing doctoral study in political science. Presenters will share projects on race and ethnic politics, representation, public opinion, political behavior, and more—offering fresh perspectives on pressing political issues. All attendees are encouraged to stop by and support the next generation of political scientists. View iposters

12:00 p.m.

Graduate Student Research Lightning Round: Comparative Politics

This lightning round features graduate research exploring the evolving nature of governance and political discourse in contemporary China. Presentations examine how the Chinese Communist Party reframes modernization narratives, the role of foreign aid during domestic crises, and the dynamics between central work teams and local village cadres. A final paper offers insights into China’s governance innovation through microgrid policy and partial administrative absorption. Together, these projects provide a closer look at the mechanisms, strategies, and challenges shaping political authority and development in a rapidly changing China. Learn more

Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), East Meeting Level – East 14

2:00 p.m.

Emerging Scholars Symposium: Research in Five (Undergraduate Students)

This lightning round showcases original research by undergraduate scholars tackling a broad range of contemporary political issues. Presenters explore how church communities influence party identification, the impact of sex scandals on youth political engagement, and the drivers of re-enfranchisement efforts in Alabama. Other topics include affective polarization in U.S. identity politics, Türkiye’s compliance with international human rights rulings, elite student perspectives in China, and the evolution of Democratic wins in rural Washington. One project even examines maritime strategy as political signaling in the South China Sea. These five-minute presentations offer fresh perspectives and bold questions from the next generation of political scientists.

2:00 p.m.

APSA Early Career Scholars Research Roundtable

4:00 p.m.

Graduate Student Research Lightning Round: AP – Representation, Participation, & Elections

This lightning round presents innovative graduate research on how Americans engage with, evaluate, and are shaped by democratic institutions. Topics include a new model for measuring state influence in the Electoral College, the impact of partisan misalignment on voter turnout, and how representational expectations affect political efficacy. Additional papers examine how Black legislators navigate institutional constraints and how disillusionment influences Black political behavior. These concise presentations offer critical insights into the evolving dynamics of political participation and representation in the U.S.

Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC), East Meeting Level – East 14

6:30 p.m.

Graduate Student Happy Hour 
Graduate students are invited to network with each other and meet informally with APSA officers and council members. 
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, 19th Floor – Vistas 360 

7:00 p.m.

TLC at APSA Reception

7:30 p.m.

APSA Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP/MFP) Alumni & RBSI Alumni Reception

All attendees are welcome to join in celebrating the achievements and contributions of APSA Diversity Fellowship Program and RBSI alumni across the discipline.

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Ambleside I

8:00 a.m.

Author Meets Critics: Clyde W. Barrow’s “A Critique of Political Science”
As we reimagine “Politics, Power, and Peoplehood in Crisis Times,” it is notable that we need to reassess and take inventory of how we study politics, power, and peoplehood as well as our role as scholars of political phenomena. The panel seeks to have such a discussion through the lens of how political science and New Political Science have developed over the past 50+ years. This development is addressed through a discussion of Clyde Barrow’s new book, “A Critique of Political Science: The Intellectual and Political History of the Caucus for a New Political Science, 1967-2017.”