Bamboo Technology: Lampshaded; everyone at the Genius Society is baffled when Calvin tells them that his cardboard box duplicator was literally made from a cardboard box, and they can't wrap their heads around the idea that it isn't some superior technology.
Big Eater: By the time he and his friends leave the convention, Socrates has absconded with half the buffet.
Fantastic Racism: Hobbes hates lions for being stuck-up, and Caesar sees tigers as a lesser animal than himself.
Hate Sink: Every member of The Genius Society is a stuck-up Insufferable Genius who look down on Sherman for his perceived "desperation" and Calvin for not marketing his inventions. One member also engages in some Fantastic Racism against tigers.
Hidden Depths: Socrates ends up providing the episode's Aesop, much to Andy's surprise.
Insufferable Genius: Every member of the Genius Society is one of these, snubbing Sherman and his friends at various turns.
King of Beasts: Hobbes and a lion named Caesar argue about this. Calvin ends it by beating Caesar up and proclaiming himself king of the jungle.
Only in It for the Money: This is The Genius Society's main motivation for inventing things, to the point that they deride Calvin's decision to invent things for fun as childish.
Running Gag: Socrates and his obsession with the refreshments table; Hobbes' tigers vs. lions debate with Caesar.
Slobs vs. Snobs: The snobs of the Genius Society vs. Calvin and friends' usual brand of chaos.
Uplifted Animal: There's more than a few genius animals attending the convention; Sherman notes that universities must be expanding the species they test on.