The Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence Distinguished Speaker Series convenes leading voices in data science and artificial intelligence to illuminate emerging ideas, foster interdisciplinary dialogue, and examine how these fields intersect with diverse domains of study. Through a combination of keynote talks and expert panels, the series provides attendees with both substantive insights and valuable opportunities for professional connection.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Noon - 1 p.m.
Scott Hall, Guild Lounge, 601 University Place, Evanston
Webinar available via Zoom
Join us for NNCI's first Distinguished Speaker event featuring Dr. Inderpal Bhandari.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Arthur Rubloff Building, Thorne Auditorium, 375 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Join us for an in-person Distinguished Speaker event, co-hosted with the Law and Technology Initiative at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and the McCormick School of Engineering, featuring U.S. District Court Judge Xavier Rodriguez. The conversation will take the form of a fireside chat moderated by Dan Linna, Director of Law and Technology Initiatives.
Lunch will be provided to Northwestern students, staff, and faculty. Registration is required.
Monday, February 2, 2026
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Chambers Hall, Ruan Conference Room, 600 Foster Street, Evanston
Webinar available via Zoom
Join us for an in-person Distinguished Panel event featuring Emily Withrow, Senior Vice President, AI Products & Platforms, The New York Times; and Northwestern University's Larry Birnbaum, Professor of Computer Science; Nick Diakopoulos, Professor in Communication Studies; and Jeremy Gilbert, Knight Chair in Digital Media Strategy.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Chambers Hall, Ruan Conference Room, 600 Foster Street, Evanston
Webinar available via Zoom
Join us for an in-person Distinguished Panel event featuring Julius Lucks, Margery Claire Carlson Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chris Wolverton, Frank C. Engelhart Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and moderated by Chris Schuh, Dean of the McCormick School of Engineering and John G. Searle Professor of Materials Science and Engineering.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Mudd Hall 3514, 2233 Tech Drive, Evanston
Webinar available via Zoom
Join us for an in-person Distinguished Speaker event featuring Jeffrey Ullman, a prominent figure in computer science whose contributions have shaped the foundations of algorithms, databases, and theoretical computing.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Scott Hall, Guild Lounge, 601 University Place, Evanston
Webinar available via Zoom
Join us for an in-person Distinguished Speaker event featuring Larry Davis, a leading figure in computer vision and artificial intelligence whose influential academic career and recent industry innovations at Amazon have helped shape modern approaches to visual understanding and generative media.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.