Submissions

The IFoRE program committee invites submissions that advance conversations at the intersection of scientific research, professional development, and societal impact across disciplines. Scientists, engineers, administrators, entrepreneurs, ethicists, policymakers, educators, and communicators worldwide are encouraged to submit proposals for sessions and presentations that celebrate and explore scientific research excellence.

While both students and professionals may lead general sessions, students who wish to enter the IFoRE Student Research Competition must use the IFoRE Student Submission Portal (coming soon).

IFoRE’s mission is to examine the many dimensions of research excellence—from how research is conducted to who conducts it and who benefits from it. We welcome diverse scientific perspectives and innovative formats. Proposals may include specific speakers and participants, or they may include ideas, concepts, or examples of speakers that should be featured during IFoRE 2026. The IFoRE program committee will help organize sessions based on proposal recommendations by inviting knowledgeable experts or thought leaders on suggested topics.

Session proposals may be structured in a variety of ways, including individual speakers, mini symposia, panel discussions, workshops, or public interviews.

Sessions should align with one or more of the following proposed tracks:

• Origins of Wonder: Where curiosity begins

  • What sparks lifelong scientific inquiry

  • Early inspiration and formative experiences

  • Storytelling as a tool for scientific identity

• Crossing Boundaries: Interdisciplinary science in action

  • Research at the intersection of fields

  • Methods, tools, and mindsets for collaboration

  • Overcoming institutional and cultural silos

• Mentorship as Responsibility, Opportunity, and Privilege: How knowledge moves across generations

  • Effective mentoring models

  • Near-peer and reverse mentoring

  • Training scientists for leadership, not just discovery

• Science in Society: Why discovery matters beyond the lab

  • Public trust in science

  • Science communication and civic engagement

  • Translating research into policy and practice

  • Science for security and prosperity

• Discovery to Marketplace: How ideas are translated into real-world solutions

  • Translating research into products and scalable solutions

  • Academic–industry partnerships and innovation ecosystems

  • Entrepreneurship and scientist-founders

  • Research and development in industrial settings

  • Workforce development, industry-ready training, and careers in industry

• Ethics, Rigor, Truthfulness, and Trustworthiness: Guiding discovery with intention

  • Ethical frontiers of emerging technologies

  • Proper Sampling and Statistical Significance

  • Role of Character Identity and Principles

• The Future We’re Building: Imagining what comes next

  • Grand challenges and moonshot ideas

  • The evolving research ecosystem

  • Preparing the next generation for unknown futures

The goal of every IFoRE session is to deliver a clear idea, lesson, or experience related to best practices, recent research results, or understanding the broader concept of research excellence. Attendees should leave with practical insights or inspiration that they can apply in their own research and career.

Questions? Please contact programs@sigmaxi.org for assistance with the submission process.