“The distinctions between sciences are artificial – an approach from one area can be applied to another”
-Lee Cronin
Purpose
IRIS: Integrating Research in Science, an innovative student-led conference, aims to celebrate interdisciplinary interactions by bringing together the realms of STEM and STEM-related fields. This one-day conference for undergraduates will allow students to promote their research, to network among professors and peers, and to prepare for their academic and professional careers by attending expert panels. By participating in IRIS, students engage in a collaborative environment that harbors values in creating a strong sense of community. Moreover, by bringing many departments and students with different interests together, students will explore new ideas within a diverse range of fields and be able to delve into the rich progress cross-disciplinary interactions have to offer. We wish for attendees to open their mind and break the barriers that margin STEM fields.
Keynote Speaker 2026
Dr. Belinda Apka
Professor of Chemical Engineering,
University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph.D. with Advanced Chemical Engineering Practice, Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
M.Eng. (Hons.), Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
B.A., Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
Professor of Chemical Engineering,
University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph.D. with Advanced Chemical Engineering Practice, Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
M.Eng. (Hons.), Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
B.A., Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
You know more than you think you do:
Hunting for quantitative answers in scarce and qualitative data
At a time when many are wrangling with biological 'big data, there remain important problems that are fundamentally data limited - questions for which there is little quantitative data, and further data collection may be hampered by limited resources, ethical constraints, or simply a lack of clarity as to which measurements are most likely to shed light on phenomena of interest. Mathematical modeling can make impactful contributions in these contexts by maximizing the value of your existing knowledge and operationalizing data from disparate sources to build quantitative models. In this presentation, I will describe how mathematical models can be used to gain new knowledge from 'tiny data'.
For more day-of information, like directions, presenters, and more, visit the conference page.
Funding acknowledgements
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