Science Slam

CLEO 2026

The premier international forum for scientific and technical optics.

Live at CLEO 2026

Science Slam Event

Wednesday, 20 May 2026
10:15 – 11:15 AM
Networking Lounge

Showcase Your Science at the CLEO 2026 Science Slam

Do you have what it takes to present your research in an engaging, entertaining, and educational way? Join us for the 2nd Annual Science Slam at CLEO 2026—a special, in-person event designed to bring cutting-edge science to life for a broader audience.

In this exciting competition, participants will deliver 10-minute presentations that creatively explain their research while keeping the tone light, engaging, and accessible. The goal is to make the audience think, laugh, and learn all at once.

The Best Part, Cash Prize

The audience gets to decide the winner, and the top presentation will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize and second place gets a $500 cash award. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your work, connect with the CLEO community.

CLEO 2025 Science Slam Champion

Thi Hoang (Univ. of Colorado)

Important Dates

Application deadline: 30 March 2026  EXTENDED DEADLINE: 6 APRIL 2026

Participant notification: 27 April 2026

Science Slam Event: 20 May 2026

How Science Slam Works: Application Process and Winner Selection

  1. Submit an Application Package that includes a short video of yourself demonstrating your presentation style and creativity. In the 2-to-3-minute video, tell us:
    • What you will talk about.
    • What makes it so cool and exciting.
    • Why you should be chosen as a CLEO 2026 Science Slam participant.
  2. If you are selected as a finalist, be prepared to showcase your skills at conveying excitement and interest, and at explaining the science in a fun way.
  3. To participate, you must be a registered in-person attendee for CLEO 2026.
  4. At the Science Slam, the grand prize winner will be determined by audience voting during the event. The final decision rests at the discretion of the organizers. By participating in the Science Slam, participants consent to the recording of their presentations for potential use in conference-related materials and promotions.

Selection Committee

Paulina Kuo, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Alexander Szameit, Univ. of Rostock
Francesco Da Ros, Technical University of Denmark
Galan Moody, Univ. of California at Santa Barbara
Irina Novikova, College of William and Mary
Katia Shtyrkova, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Matthias Heinrich, Univ. of Rostock
Mike Mielke, Gooch & Housego
Nick Peters, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Sergey Polyakov – National Institute of Standards and Technology

Looking for inspiration?

Check out some of these Science Slam videos:

Questions?

Questions? Email CLEOprogram@cleoconference.org and include 2026 CLEO Science Slam in the subject line.