Call for Proposals- Breakout Sessions

Breakout session proposal criteria, information, and deadlines.

Breakout Sessions

Event Date: March 26, 2026

Proposal Submission Window:  CURRENTLY CLOSED. Deadline to submit proposals was December 15, 2025.

Proposal Submission Portal

NJIT invites faculty and staff to submit proposals to lead breakout sessions at AI Exploration Day, a campus-wide event dedicated to examining the rapidly evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research, work, creativity, and society.

This full-day event will feature keynote speakers, faculty- and staff-led breakout sessions, an AI industry panel, and a student showcase—all highlighting how NJIT is shaping the future of AI through innovation, collaboration, and critical inquiry.

Proposals will be collected and reviewed through AI Exploration Day's event app, Whova, when the submission portal opens the week of December 1st. Use the link at the top of the page to submit--you will be prompted to create a Whova account or log into an existing one. 

Note: A separate Call for Student Proposals will open soon for the AI Exploration Day Student Showcase.

  • Students interested in presenting their work independently are encouraged to apply through that process.
  • Students may also participate as co-presenters on faculty- or staff-led breakout sessions submitted through this CFP.

Both the Breakout Session and Student Showcase proposals are collected through the same application form. The form will guide you to the questions relevant to your submission and prompt you to select which opportunity you are applying for.

Breakout Session Tracks

Proposals are invited for sessions aligned with one or more of the following tracks:

  1. AI Frontiers: Research, Discovery, and Innovation
    Focus: Cutting-edge research from NJIT that’s redefining what AI can do in science, engineering, and beyond.
  2. AI in Industry: Transformation and Disruption
    Focus: How AI is changing the way industries operate—from engineering to finance, healthcare, and urban systems.
  3. AI for Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment
    Focus: Leveraging AI to address global challenges related to climate, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.
  4. AI Literacy for All: Building Future-Ready Learners
    Focus: Preparing students, educators, and workers with the knowledge, ethics, and fluency to thrive in an AI world.
  5. Ethics, Equity, and Human Responsibility
    Focus: Critical conversations about fairness, bias, labor, privacy, and the moral dimensions of AI.
  6. AI Collaboratives: Education, Policy, and Partnerships
    Focus: Building cross-sector alliances to advance AI innovation and literacy across New Jersey and beyond.
  7. The Future Human: Society, Culture, and Identity in an AI World
    Focus: Exploring how AI is reshaping identity, relationships, communication, and what it means to be human.

Session Formats

We welcome diverse and engaging formats, including:

  • Panels or Roundtables – moderated discussions or debates
  • Interactive Presentation​
  • Hands-on Workshop

All breakout sessions will be 45 minutes (including Q&A).

Proposal Guidelines- Start Preparing Now!

The deadline to submit is December 15, 2025. Use the link at the top of the page to submit--you will be prompted to create a Whova account or log into an existing one. You will be asked to include the following information:

  • Presenter/Co-Presenters name, titles, departments, and contact information
  • Presenter(s) bio and headshot(s) (bio limited to 75 words max)
  • Title of Your Session (keep it concise and engaging for the program- 20 words max )
  • Short Session Description (for the public program, 75 words max)
  • Detailed Session Abstract (for the review committee- 200 words max. Describe what the session will cover in greater depth. Please include your goals, key discussion points or activities, and any questions you plan to explore.)
  • Target Audience(s) (e.g., Faculty, Students, Staff, Industry/Professional Guests, General Public)
  • Session Format (e.g., Interactive Presentation, Hands-On Workshop, Panel Discussion)
  • Track alignment
  • ​Presentation “Wow Factor” (AI Exploration Day is meant to surprise, inspire, and engage. What will make your session stand out? Think about what will spark curiosity, make people say “I didn’t know AI could do that!”, or leave them thinking about your session long after it ends. 100 words max)

Why Present?

Selected presenters will have the opportunity to:

  • Showcase innovative AI-related research, teaching, or practice
  • Represent NJIT’s leadership in shaping the future of AI
  • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and conversation across campus
  • ​Contribute to one of the university’s most visible and engaging events of the year

Questions?
Contact exploreai@njit.edu