2026 OMSCS Conference Recap
The 2026 OMSCS Conference was held on May 11-12 at the Global Learning Center. 283 people registered to attend the conference either in person or virtually, from 16 different countries and 34 different U.S. states! The program featured diverse presentations from OMSCS students and alumni in a variety of formats (presentations, panel discussions, workshops, demonstrations, and posters), as well as the ever-present Resource Fair, evening reception, and campus tour.
Barbara Oakley delivered an engaging keynote address related to AI and education, and the newly added OMSCS Faculty Showcase highlighted faculty research in a series of lightning talks. Other new additions included a fireside chat between College of Computing Dean Vivek Sarkar and OMSCS Executive Director David Joyner, as well as a panel and networking session dedicated to women in OMSCS. Additionally, the day before the conference, attendees were able to participate in a service activity offered by InspiredU and a bowling/billiards social at Tech Rec.
Scroll down for more about this year's conference!
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Keynote Address: Barbara Oakley
We were delighted to welcome Barbara Oakley, PhD, PE as our keynote speaker. In her engaging presentation, “Learning Reimagined: How Neural Insights Can Revolutionize Higher Education in the Age of AI”, Barbara drew upon neuroscience and artificial intelligence to show how the brain builds knowledge, develops expertise, and ultimately achieves deeper understanding. She challenged educators to embrace “cognitive realism” by helping students build strong foundations, practice knowledge retrieval, and engage their curiosity through meaningful questions and activities. Most importantly, she emphasized that although AI can enhance learning, it cannot replace the internal knowledge and neural connections that make critical thinking possible.
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Fireside Chat: Vivek Sarkar & David Joyner
College of Computing Dean Vivek Sarkar and OMSCS Executive Director David Joyner joined attendees for an engaging fireside chat about OMSCS and online computing education in general. The conversation focused on the role of AI in education—and in OMSCS in particular—as well as career prospects for OMSCS graduates, highlighting that nearly every company in nearly every industry needs computing expertise. The discussion also explored the long-term vision of creating accessible, part-time doctoral pathways for working professionals.
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OMSCS Faculty Showcase
To foster connections between attendees and faculty, the new OMSCS Faculty Showcase brought together six OMSCS faculty members and instructors for a series of lightning talks. Donghoon Baek, Jon Duke, Hyesoon Kim, Chris Poch, Rich Vuduc, and Saman Zonouz offered attendees a glimpse into the diverse research happening across Georgia Tech. The session highlighted a broad range of topics, including artificial intelligence, robotics, health informatics, high-performance computing, software engineering, cybersecurity, and privacy. By showcasing both ongoing research and connections to OMSCS, the presentations showcased the expertise of the faculty who help shape the program, as well as opportunities for engagement beyond the classroom.
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Service Activity: InspiredU
New to the conference this year, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a pre-conference service activity in partnership with InspiredU, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide through technology access and education. Volunteers spent the morning supporting InspiredU's mission through hands-on technology projects, primarily reformatting computers for future use and dismantling older computers so their components could be sorted and repurposed. The activity provided a meaningful opportunity for attendees to give back to the local community while connecting with other attendees before the conference began. It was a rewarding way to kick off the conference and embody the spirit of service and technology for social good!
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Other Highlights
Bowling Social
Conference attendees gathered at Georgia Tech's Tech Rec for an afternoon of bowling and billiards before the conference officially began. The social provided a relaxed setting for attendees to meet one another, strengthen existing connections, and begin building the sense of community that continued throughout the conference.
Online Research Communities
A panel of Georgia Tech faculty and research leaders shared practical approaches for building and sustaining thriving online research communities. The discussion highlighted strategies for effective mentorship, fostering collaboration at a distance, and creating inclusive environments where virtual research partnerships can flourish.
Women in OMSCS
OMSCS students and alumni participated in a panel discussion focused on experiences as women in the program, covering topics such as community building, mentorship, overcoming challenges, and navigating diverse paths in technology. Attendees also had an opportunity to connect with each other and network with panelists.
Interview Workshop
Megan Elrath from the Georgia Tech Career Center provided practical guidance for navigating internships and job interviews with confidence. Attendees learned strategies for communicating their experiences effectively, answering behavioral questions, and presenting their skills in ways that resonate with employers.
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Conference Sponsors
The success of the 2026 OMSCS Conference would not have been possible without the generous support of our conference sponsors: Google and Editor World. Through their sponsorship, the conference was able to expand its programming and strengthen the overall attendee experience. Google representatives also attended the Resource Fair to interact directly with attendees, provide career guidance, and offer networking opportunities with OMSCS students and alumni.
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Feedback
What did attendees think about this year's conference? Check out results from our feedback survey below!
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Impact
As always, the OMSCS Conference succeeds in at least two Strategic Focus Areas detailed in Georgia Tech’s Strategic Plan:
- Connect Globally: The OMSCS Conference attracts people not only from outside Georgia, but also from outside the U.S. Thus, the conference exemplifies our dedication to serving our global student and alumni population and may function as a model for similar globally-focused events.
- Cultivate Well-Being: Attendees associate the OMSCS Conference with words such as “positive experience”, “valuable”, “meaningful”, “connected”, and “fun”. These descriptors have less to do with academics and more to do with mental and emotional health, highlighting the conference’s important role in strengthening the well-being of OMSCS students and alumni.
Thanks to everyone who attended the 2026 OMSCS Conference, everyone involved in organizing the event and ensuring its success, and our official conference sponsors, Google and Editor World! See y’all next year!
Quotes from Attendees:
"I reconnected with old friends and made new ones. Meeting staff and faculty in person, getting to attend a baseball game while I was on campus, and just being on campus and getting to go to local popular spots for students really made feel like a GA Tech student and that I belonged."
"Attending before my fall enrollment was invaluable. Meeting the community and hearing their strategies has prepared me well. I look forward to returning next year!"
"I had a very positive experience overall… As an online student, meeting fellow students in person made me feel more connected to GT. I would love to attend the future conferences."
"More faculty were present which was great to see and the pre-conference social this year was especially well done."