Call for Proposals

WiDS Charlotte Submission Deadline: November 1, 2025

UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science and Honeywell invite presentation proposals for the Women in Data Science (WiDS) Charlotte 2026 Conference, a one-day event designed to inspire, educate, and connect current and future data scientists in the Carolinas. The program emphasizes technical expertise, hands-on training, and professional growth, with a special focus on supporting women in the field.

Suggested Topics: We are seeking proposals from female thought leaders in data science on topics including (but not limited to):

  • Career Development in Data Science & AI (career pathways, mentorship, networking, transitioning into the field)
  • Leadership in Data Science (building teams, driving innovation, leading data-driven organizations)
  • Responsible AI (bias mitigation, transparency, fairness, regulatory compliance)
  • Augmented Intelligence (decision-support systems, AI copilots, hybrid intelligence in healthcare or finance)
  • Generative AI (prompt engineering, governance, ethics, intellectual property, creative applications)
  • Applied Research (NLP, LLMs, social media analytics, data visualization)
  • Tools of the Trade (AWS, Tableau, TensorFlow, PyTorch, SAS, R, MLOps)
  • Physical AI (autonomous vehicles, industrial robotics, smart manufacturing, digital healthcare twins, urban planning simulations)

Proposals that incorporate experiential or hands-on elements are encouraged.

Format Options

Presentation | Panel Session | Workshop

The Charlotte WiDS 2026 conference offers three breakout session formats:

  1. Presentation Session (40–45 minutes): A focused talk on a specific topic, led by up to two presenters, followed by audience questions and discussion.
  2. Panel Session (40–45 minutes): A moderated discussion with up to four participants offering diverse perspectives on a topic. A followed by audience questions and discussion.
  3. Workshop Session (80–90 minutes, including a 10-minute break): An interactive, hands-on session with up to three presenters, designed to teach practical skills, apply methods, or explore a topic in depth through activities, group work, and guided instruction.

Submission Guidelines: Proposals should be submitted via our Whova Conference App by November 1, 2025. If you encounter any issues, please direct questions to sds-conferences@charlotte.edu.

Each proposal must include:

●  Proposed Title

●  Abstract (up to 250 words)

●  Presenter Information:

○  Name

○  Email address

○  Job Title

○  Organization

○  LinkedIn profile

●  Brief Biography (200 words or less)

●  Professional, high-resolution headshot (300 DPI)

●  Previous speaking experience (include links to slides, videos, or talks)

●  Preferred Session Format: Presentation | Panel Session | Workshop

Final slides due: January 31, 2026

Submissions will be reviewed by faculty from UNC Charlotte and industry partners. Selected presenters will be notified by email.

Important Notes:

●  Company descriptions are limited to the first slide.

●  Direct or indirect sales, product, or service pitches are strictly prohibited.

●  All members of the professional and academic community are encouraged to apply. Questions: Contact sds-conferences@charlotte.edu.

Submit Proposal