Physics Education Research Conference 2026

July 22, 2026 - July 23, 2026 in Pasadena, CA

Potentials and Perils from AI in Physics Teaching and Learning

While Artificial Intelligence has been increasingly influencing our lives for at least two decades, it was the release of ChatGPT in late 2022 that ushered in a sense of urgency and a realization that education will be one of the areas of life most affected by AI. The PER community is well positioned to navigate both the technical and educational dimensions of AI, and be a driver of both innovation and critical reflection. The growing body of PER publications on AI clearly reflects the need for the exploration of this newly emerging research area, and showcases the capacity of the PER community to engage with complex, interdisciplinary challenges and take advantage of new possibilities afforded by AI. The 2026 Physics Education Research Conference invites participants to exchange knowledge, experiences, and insights, exploring AI's role within PER and education more broadly.

Jayson Nissen, Montana State University
Zhongzhou Chen, University of Central Florida
Ben Van Dusen, Iowa State University
Lauren Barth-Cohen, University of Utah

Provisional Important Dates

February 2026: Parallel session proposal and community connections submission will open
Mid March 2026: Parallel session proposals are due
Early April 2026: Contributed poster abstract submission will open
Early May 2026: Community Connection proposals are due
Early May 2026: Paper-eligible poster abstracts and Proceedings manuscripts are due
Early June 2026*: Reviews for the PERC Proceedings due
Early June 2026*: Non-paper eligible poster abstract submissions are due
July 22-23, 2026: Dates of the PERC