General Information
The 136th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science
The 136th annual meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science (TAS) will be hosted by Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee on November 13-14, with an opening social Friday night and meeting on Saturday. Cumberland University is located at 1 Cumberland Square, Lebanon, TN 37087.
Registration and the poster session will be held in the atrium of Labry Hall, with parking available in Lots C and D by the building. The annual TAS business meeting and plenary session will be held in Alumni Hall (with parking available there as well). Lunch will be held in the Phillips Dining Hall. See below for a map of the campus, to find updated meeting details, and to download the meeting program. Only a few physical copies of the program will be available at the registration table the morning of the meeting.
TAS members and individuals, including students, sponsored by TAS members, are invited to present their research at the annual meeting. Titles and abstracts for poster and oral presentations should be submitted electronically by Friday, October 2 at midnight CDT through the TAS website. At least one author must be a TAS member. Any questions about the annual meeting should be directed to Dr. Darlene Panvini (darlene.panvini@belmont.edu) or Dr. J. Allyn Smith (smithj@apsu.edu).
Lunch is available for $10/person in the dining hall when selected at registration. Online registration will be open until October 23rd at 5pm. Onsite registration will be available the day of the meeting. Meeting registration and membership dues will be managed through the TAS website.
View the full meeting announcement
You can download the program here: Not yet available
You can submit your abstract here: Submit abstracts here
You can find a campus map here: Campus Map
You can register for the annual meeting here: Registration
Tennessee Academy of Science Meeting
1 Cumberland Square, Lebanon, TN 37087
Meeting Schedule
All times listed are in CENTRAL TIME
Registration Fees & Membership Dues
Registration Fees for TAS Annual Meeting:
| Category | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| Faculty/Professional Attendee | $50.00 |
| Undergraduate/Graduate Student | $15.00 |
Membership Dues:
| Category | Dues |
|---|---|
| Regular Annual Membership | $40.00 |
| Student Annual Membership | $10.00 |
| Emeritus Annual Membership | $10.00 |
| Sustaining Annual Membership | $50.00 |
| Supporting Annual Membership | $100.00 |
| Life Membership (single payment) | $400.00 |
Plenary Presentation
Dr. Lionel Crews
The title for his talk is “Searching for Exoplanets: A Story of Collaboration”.
Lionel Crews is an Associate Professor of Physics at UT Martin, having been there since 2000. He graduated with a PhD in Physics from Vanderbilt University, specializing in the astrophysics of chromospherically-active binary stars. He is married with three children, one of which is working on her master's degree in library and information sciences at UTK, another majoring in geography at UTK, and the third is currently applying to psychology PhD programs.
Since joining the faculty at UT Martin, Crews has focused on research in star formation and variable stars (including exoplanets). He is in the process of completing an observatory at UT Martin which will house a 17" CDK reflector, and he plans to do extensive student-focused research in collaboration with other regional observatories. He has also spent much of his non-teaching time on service to the public, including grant-supported workshops for K12 science teachers, working with the local museum Discovery Park of America doing astronomy-themed events, and helping start an astronomy club. He was recently elected faculty senate president and is looking forward with mild trepidation at the upcoming challenges facing higher education in Tennessee.
Recommended Hotel Accommodations for the 2026 Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting
For those needing overnight accommodations on Friday, November 13th, we have a block of rooms available at the Holiday Inn Express Lebanon (826 South Cumberland Street, Lebanon, TN, 37087) at a rate of $119/night + applicable taxes and fees. To reserve rooms at the reduced rate, please use the link below. This rate is only valid through Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Other hotels in the area include:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
826 Cumberland St, Lebanon, TN 37087
Located on Cumberland St. @ I-40, ~ 2 miles / 7 mins from CU campus
615-994-3225
Hampton Inn & Suites
1065 Franklin Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090
Located near I-40 and Hartmann Drive, ~ 3 miles / 8 mins from CU campus
615-444-3445
Fairfield Inn & Suites
1145 Franklin Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090
Located near I-40 and Hartmann Drive, ~ 3 miles / 8 mins from CU campus
615-470-2224