Chicago Women in STEM

LXCL:For current postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Student Early Bird

Student Standard

LXCL:For postdoctoral researchers and other early career positions.

Postdoc Early Bird

Postdoc Standard

LXCL:For faculty and industry professionals.

Professional Early Bird

Professional Standard

Chicago Women in STEM Initiative is excited to welcome you to our 9th annual Chicago Women in STEM Symposium in celebration of International Women&rsquo;s Day (IWD) 2026. The theme of this year&#39;s symposium is Frontiers of Technology and Innovation: Re-shaping STEM and Society. This event aims to examine the effects of this unprecedented era of rapid technological advancement. We will discuss the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) on various sectors including quantum computing, biotechnology, and society as a whole. We will also discuss regulation and the impact these technologies have on the human experience.&nbsp; Symposium schedule: 1:30 - 2:00&nbsp;- Registration, Sponsor Tables 2:00 - 2:10 - Welcome and sponsor introductions 2:15 - 3:15 - An interactive workshop on gender bias in AI and LLMs led by Dr. Tessa Charlesworth, PhD a leader in this field. (Please bring your laptops for the workshop!) 3:20 - 3:45 - Coffee break and networking 3:50- 4:50 - A Q&amp;A panel session featuring local women leaders in STEM discussing their paths breaking into their current roles and sharing advice regarding AI and STEM. 4:55 - 5:55 - Our keynote speaker, &nbsp;Dr. Maryellen Giger, PhD is the A.N. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professor of Radiology, Committee on Medical Physics, and the College at the University of Chicago. She will be focusing on career trajectory and how she uses AI in her research. 6:00 - 7:00&nbsp;- A networking reception that will facilitate conversations and interactions amongst early career women, volunteers, speakers, facilitators, and additional local female role models in STEM. PLUS&nbsp;- Opportunities to interact with representatives from our initiative&rsquo;s partner and sponsor organizations in industry, academia, law, and local non-profits. Please email <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:chistemwomen@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">chistemwomen@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;if cost is a barrier to attending!

Chicago Women in STEM Initiative is excited to welcome you to our 9th annual Chicago Women in STEM Symposium in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026. The theme of this year's symposium is Frontiers of Technology and Innovation: Re-shaping STEM and Society. This event aims to examine the effects of this unprecedented era of rapid technological advancement. We will discuss the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) on various sectors including quantum computing, biotechnology, and society as a whole. We will also discuss regulation and the impact these technologies have on the human experience.  Symposium schedule: 1:30 - 2:00 - Registration, Sponsor Tables 2:00 - 2:10 - Welcome and sponsor introductions 2:15 - 3:15 - An interactive workshop on gender bias in AI and LLMs led by Dr. Tessa Charlesworth, PhD a leader in this field. (Please bring your laptops for the workshop!) 3:20 - 3:45 - Coffee break and networking 3:50- 4:50 - A Q&amp;A panel session featuring local women leaders in STEM discussing their paths breaking into their current roles and sharing advice regarding AI and STEM. 4:55 - 5:55 - Our keynote speaker,  Dr. Maryellen Giger, PhD is the A.N. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professor of Radiology, Committee on Medical Physics, and the College at the University of Chicago. She will be focusing on career trajectory and how she uses AI in her research. 6:00 - 7:00 - A networking reception that will facilitate conversations and interactions amongst early career women, volunteers, speakers, facilitators, and additional local female role models in STEM. PLUS - Opportunities to interact with representatives from our initiative’s partner and sponsor organizations in industry, academia, law, and local non-profits. Please email <a href="mailto:chistemwomen@gmail.com" target="_blank">chistemwomen@gmail.com</a> if cost is a barrier to attending!