2026 Event Information

The Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences and the Center of Excellence in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Rochester are pleased to announce this year’s Finger Lakes Science and Technology Showcase.

About the 2026 Showcase

The Showcase brings together university researchers and industry professionals from the Finger Lakes region and throughout New York State for a dynamic, full-day event designed to spark meaningful interaction, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate innovation that drives regional economic growth.

NEW THIS YEAR: Technology Woman of the Year 2026

TechRochester and the Centers are excited to host two events at the Memorial Art Gallery this year. Tech Rochester will kick off the day with its Technology Woman of the Year program beginning at 8:00 a.m.

This award recognizes, celebrates, and elevates the achievements of women in high-technology fields. Through the Technology Woman of the Year Award and the Emerging Technology Woman of the Year Award, women working in these professions are encouraged to remain in the Greater Rochester region, mentor young women, and contribute to the area’s continued growth and innovation.

Important: This event requires separate registration.
To learn more and to register for this paid event, please visit the Technology Woman of the Year Event Page.

Tentative Showcase Information

Keynote Talk

Beyond Smart Display Glasses: Creating a path to Comfort, Context, and Depth in Spatial Computing.

Barry Silverstein
Director of the Center for eXtended Reality (CXR)
University of Rochester

The first generation of smart glasses is validating consumer value by delivering individualized, context-aware information in a wearable form factor. However, a significant engineering challenge separates these early data displays from the milestone of comfortable, ‘true AR’ with a wide field of view and high-fidelity digital overlays. This transition point is defined by simultaneous technical hurdles: scaling the new display technologies, integrating prescriptions without compromising weight and yield, and ensuring visual comfort, particularly during interactions involving both near-field and distant objects (as comparative visual studies have demonstrated). This talk analyzes the critical decision-making framework and key technical and commercial benchmarks that define the road from present monocular single focal optics to more complex, variable-focus display architectures. We will present a phased strategic roadmap that balances the necessary codesign of optics and computational engines, detailing the current knowns and unknowns required to reach a context-aware, all-day wearable.

Learn more about Barry Silverstein

Speed Networking Pitch Session

Following the Technology Woman of the Year Awards, attendees are invited to participate in the Speed Networking Pitch Session. Faculty members, companies, and organizations will deliver brief three-minute pitches highlighting their research, work, and collaboration interests to spark new partnerships and collaborations.

Interested in giving a pitch? Complete this form. Selections will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions? Contact Nick Koziol at n.koziol@rochester.edu

Poster Session Contest

Students interested in participating in the poster session must complete the Poster Submission form. The general categories include ARVR, Biomedical Technology, Data Science, OPI, and Sensors, Acoustics, and Materials. Submissions are welcome from all areas of Science and Technology. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three posters. To participate, please visit our website or complete this form (note that this will not register you for the showcase).

Also Included

• Lunch for all attendees
• Coffee networking opportunities
• A student research poster session, including prizes for the top three posters

Use the link below to Register Now for a full day of awards, recognition, science, and discovery.