IEEE CIC NextGen Program: Juniors at Conference

Research, up close

NextGen: Juniors at Conference is IEEE CIC's K–12 engagement track, placing young learners directly in the room with working researchers. Over one day, students move through research talks, mentoring panels, and hands-on activities, present their own posters, and tour industry demos — no prerequisites, no lecture-hall pressure. Families are welcome to join the full experience.

Students in grades 9–12 spend a full day inside AI & robotics, cybersecurity & privacy, quantum computing, and space systems — working alongside the researchers and practitioners of IEEE International Conference on Collaboration and Internet Computing (CIC).

Call for Posters

As part of IEEE CIC NextGen: Juniors at Conference 2026, we invite high school students to showcase their creativity, research, engineering projects, and STEM innovations in our Student Poster Competition – primarily in the areas covering AI and Robotics, Cybersecurity and Privacy, Space and Critical Systems, and Quantum Computing . Students may present science fair projects, engineering designs, software applications,, research studies, or other work related to these themes. Posters should be displayed on a standard tri-fold presentation board(available from local office supply and retail stores). Students are responsible for creating their posters, printing their content, and attaching all materials to the board prior to the event. Posters will be evaluated by engineers, researchers, and industry professionals, with awards presented for outstanding projects. This is a unique opportunity to share your work, receive expert feedback, and engage with fellow STEM enthusiasts.

Multiple frontiers, one day

AI & Robotics

See how machines sense, learn, and act — from robotic arms to the models that drive them.

Cybersecurity & Privacy

Explore how systems are defended — and how attackers try to break them.

Quantum Computing

Get a first look at qubits, superposition, and the machines built to use them.

Space & Critical Systems

Trace how critical systems are engineered to survive orbit and beyond.

Tentative Schedule

Registration, Networking Breakfast & Poster Setup 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Welcome Remarks & Program Overview 9:00 am - 9:15 am

Expert Talk: AI and Robotics 9:15 am - 9:45 am
Speaker: Vishnu Pendyala · 20 min talk + 10 min Q&A

Hands-on Activity: AR/VR Interactive Demonstrations 9:45 am - 10:45 am
Leads: Julian Jarrett, Kimberely Hemmings-Jarrett & a graduate student (TBD)

Break 10:45 am - 11:00 am

Expert Talk: Quantum Computing, Quantum AI & Post-Quantum Cybersecurity 11:00 am - 11:30 am
Speaker: TBD · 20 min talk + 10 min Q&A

Student Poster Viewing, Networking & Lightning Pitches 11:30 am - 12:00 pm

Lunch 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

CISE Career Panel: What Is It Like to Be an Engineer or Scientist? 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Panelists: Julian Jarrett, TBD, TBD, TBD

Break 1:45 pm - 2:00 pm

Hands-on Activity: Hands-On IoT Workshop 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Build-and-take-home project · Leads: Julian Jarrett, Kimberely Hemmings-Jarrett & a graduate student (TBD)

Expert Talk: Space Technology & Critical Systems in the Age of AI and Cybersecurity 3:00 pm - 3:40 pm
Speaker: Mai Abdelhakim · 30 min talk + 10 min Q&A

Student Poster Presentations & Judging 3:40 pm - 4:20 pm

Best Poster Awards & Recognition 4:20 pm - 4:35 pm

Closing Remarks & Group Photo 4:35 pm - 5:00 pm

Organizing Committee

Vishnu Pendyala, San Jose State University
Upal Mahbub, Qualcomm
Julian Jarrett, Lutron Electronics
Mai Abdelhakim, University of Pittsburgh
Irene Pazos Viana, IEEE Section Officer
Danda Rawat, Howard University
James Joshi, University of Pittsburgh
Liou Tang, University of Pittsburgh

HS Student Volunteers

Tisha Joshi, Pine-Richland High School
Kriti Pendyala, University Preparatory Academy

Registration & Details

Grades 9–12 · No experience required.
For registration, please use this link or scan the QR code below:
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