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.

Organizing Committee

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

Provisional Important Dates

Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Parallel session proposal and community connections submission opened
Monday, March 23, 2026: Parallel session proposals were due
Tuesday, March 24, 2026: Contributed poster abstract submission opened
Monday, May 18, 2026: Community Connection proposals are due
Monday, May 18, 2026: Paper-eligible poster abstracts and Proceedings manuscripts are due
Tuesday, June 9, 2026: Reviews for the PERC Proceedings due
Friday, June 19, 2026: Non-paper eligible poster abstract submissions are due
July 22-23, 2026: Dates of the PERC