40th Anniversary Celebration
Join us for the Ken Kennedy Institute's 40th Anniversary Celebration on Monday, November 9. The all-day event will feature distinguished keynote speakers in AI and Computing, research talks and posters, and an evening social reception. This event is invite-only.
When: Monday, November 9, 2026
Where: Duncan Hall, McMurtry Auditorium
Keynote Speakers
These lectures are are co-organized by the Ken Kennedy Institute and the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. The Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Civic Scientist Lecture Series, which brings scientists to Rice University to promote science as a worthy public good. These lectures are open to the public, but registration is required. Please RSVP before November 4.
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John L. Hennessy President Emeritus, Stanford University John L. Hennessy is co-founder of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, the largest, university-wide, fully-endowed graduate fellowship in the world. He is chairman of the Board of Alphabet and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Hennessy has been on the faculty of Stanford University since 1977 and previously served as the president of the university for 16 years after roles including chair of Computer Science, dean of the School of Engineering, and university provost. He co-founded MIPS Computer Systems and Atheros Communications. He and Dave Patterson were awarded the ACM AM Turing Prize for 2017 and the National Academy of Engineering Draper Prize in 2022. He was recently recognized as one of HPCwire's "HPC Legends" in 2026. |
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Eric Horvitz Chief Scientific Officer, Microsoft Eric Horvitz is Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft where he leads initiatives at the intersection of science, technology, and society, with emphases on artificial intelligence, biosciences, and healthcare. His research contributions have advanced AI through innovations in perception, reasoning, and decision-making under uncertainty. His efforts and collaborations have led to fielded systems in healthcare, transportation, ecommerce, operating systems, and aerospace. Beyond his scientific work, he has pursued programs, organizations, and studies on ethics, values, and safety with applications and influences of AI. |
Online registration for this event is now closed.
On Monday, November 9, you may visit the registration desk to get checked in to the event.
Schedule
View the schedule for Monday, November 9, 2026 below:
| Time | Session Details |
|---|---|
| 10:00–10:45 AM | Check-in & Breakfast Light Breakfast and Networking |
| 10:45–11:00 AM | Welcome Remarks Lydia Kavraki, Director of the Ken Kennedy Institute Neal Lane, Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy |
| 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Keynote I: John L. Hennessy President Emeritus of Stanford University |
| 12:00–1:15 PM | Poster Session I & Lunch See list of Session I presenters |
| 1:15–1:30 PM | Break |
| 1:30–2:30 PM | Panels: AI & Computing at Rice Ken Kennedy Institute Research Clusters • Analog Systems for AI • Autonomy • Biosecurity • Ecology • Geosciences • Health • Human-AI Collaboration • Multimodal Perception • Quantum Computing • Social Science • Systems • Trustworthy AI • Urban Resilience |
| 2:30–3:45 PM | Poster Session II See list of Session II presenters |
| 3:45–4:00 PM | Break |
| 4:00–5:00 PM | Keynote II: Eric Horvitz Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft |
| 5:00–6:00 PM | Reception |
| 5:00–8:30 PM | Private Event Invite Only |
Celebrate 40 Years • Make a Gift
The Ken Kennedy Institute is the nexus for AI and Computing at Rice University. We foster world-class foundational and use-inspired research in AI and Computing and enable its transformative use across diverse disciplines to solve global challenges, driven by the highest ethical principles. If you are not able to attend but would like to support our mission, we invite you to consider making a gift to the Ken Kennedy Institute Director's fund. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Additional Event Details
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Parking Information
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Guidance for visitor parking will be provided soon.
- Hotel + Visitor Information
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There are several nearby hotels for out-of-town guests that offer discounted rates for Rice University guests, including the Marriott, Westin, and InterContinental hotels in the Texas Medical Center and Hotel ZaZa in the Museum District. Compare the Rice rates across participating hotels using this link.
Complimentary shuttle services to the Rice campus are available through many nearby hotels—coordinate with your hotel's concierge team for more information.
Additional resources:
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Policies and Accessibility Information
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Policies: We uphold Rice University's standard of safety and emergency protocols. To ensure a safe and positive environment for all attendees, the conference venue will have building security available as well as campus security on-site. To learn about additional Rice University policies, please visit the following links:
Rice University Discrimination and Harassment Policy
Rice University Affirmative Action PolicyAccessibility: We are committed to making efforts that ensure an inclusive event experience for all attendees. If you have an accommodation request for a disability or would like to inquire about possible modifications that might improve your experience, please contact us at kenkennedy@rice.edu.
Please note that some requested services may not be available. We recommend reaching out at least one month in advance of the event.