Hosted by
Monday, April 13, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center
901 S. University Parks Drive, Waco, Texas
Baylor ECS SUMMIT is a free, come-and-go community event showcasing research, technology and innovation hosted by the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Baylor University. The event is open to the public. The schedule includes student poster sessions with an awards program, special exhibits showcasing student organization projects, examples of work happening in Baylor labs and faculty presentations.
The event provides a venue for all Baylor ECS undergraduate and graduate researchers—as well as nearby community colleges and high school students—to present their projects in a professional format. A judging panel will offer feedback and select the winners. $2,500 in total prizes will be awarded. These presentations allow others to learn about the exciting research happening around campus and in the Waco and Central Texas community while giving early researchers a professional platform for practice and career preparation.
In celebration of ECS’s 30th Anniversary, this event is an expansion of the annual ECS event formerly known as ECS Research Showcase, which was a poster competition only open to students within Baylor ECS.
REGISTER (optional)
SCHEDULE
2:05 - 2:15 pm : Welcome Remarks by Dean Daniel Pack
2:15 - 4:45 pm : Poster Judging, Projects & Demos by Baylor ECS research labs and student organizations
2:30 - 4:00 pm : Special Presentations by Baylor ECS faculty and local community/industry leaders
4:00 - 5:00 pm : Dr Pepper Hour and Free Swag
4:45 - 5:00 pm : Judges’ final tabulation
5:00 - 5:30 pm Final Remarks & Awards Program
TECH & RESEARCH DEMOS
2:15-4:45: Baylor eSports Team, Drone Soccer, VR headsets, Robotics, 3D Printing, Baylor Baja team buggy and more.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
2:30-3 pm Presentations
- “Sustainable Transportation and Renewables” Annette von Jouanne, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Room A)
- David Jack, Ph.D., Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Graduate Program Director of Materials Science & Engineering (Room B)
3-3:30 pm Presentations
- "Efficient Delivery of Clean Process Heat to Distant Locations" Alex Yokochi, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean of Research (Room A)
- “Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center: Waco Builds What's Next” Deidra Emerson, Deputy City Manager, City of Waco and Lindsey Helton, Executive Director, Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center (Room B)
3:30-4 pm Presentations
- "Ceramic Materials Research at Baylor for Extreme Environment Applications" Abhendra Singh, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering – (Room A)
- “BRIC Lab Buildouts: Unique Features and Design Challenges” Eddie Mazanec, Mazanec Construction – (Room B)
POSTER JUDGING
Judges will evaluate posters by visual presentation, technical value, and content delivery. The ECS Board of Advocates, faculty, and special guests will serve as judges from 2:15 to 4:45 p.m. Volunteer judges should supply their cell phone number and preferred email to Lane_Murphy@baylor.edu. Judges will only score their assigned posters (instructions will be on the ballot). You will receive a ballot via text and/or email, then score your ballot electronically in real time. There are no paper ballots. On the day of the event, locate the posters you will evaluate by using the maps provided at the sign-in table and on digital screens.
POSTER ENTRY
ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA: All Baylor ECS students are eligible to enter the Research Showcase. Judging criteria are visual presentation, technical value, and content delivery. Students from Central Texas high schools and two-year colleges are also eligible to enter. Note that there are limited spots available, so all who submit abstracts may not be able to participate.
Only one entry per group allowed. Only one entry per individual allowed. It is possible for an individual to enter one group and one individual poster, but a presenter must be at each poster during the judging window. If a group poster wins a prize, the total prize amount will be divided among the group.
Entering a poster from a course or competition you have already participated in this academic year is allowed, but it must be from this academic year, Summer 2025 to present. Posters must be your original content. Both research and design project posters are allowed.
Examples of poster formats are on the Poster Submission page. ECS staff will print all posters if you send your file by April 6. Otherwise, plan to print and bring your poster to the competition. Be sure to review your poster carefully before submitting, as ECS staff will only print each poster once.
To submit your file, simply email it to Lane_Murphy@baylor.edu.
After the poster submission deadline, return to this page, where more details will be posted, such as the competitor list and where to find your printed poster that ECS staff will set up on the day of the event. After the event, at least one person in your group will receive an email from Rocketjudge.com, which is the online judging platform where you can see your scores and receive feedback from judges. Participants can take their posters, but please leave the cardboard backing.
DETAILS FOR THE DAY OF THE SHOWCASE
The competition is in the Hurd Welcome Center at Baylor University. Between 2:15 and 4:45pm, at least one person representing the project must be present at all times in order to present to judges. Be prepared to present anytime judges or attendees come by your poster.
When you arrive at the event, check at the bottom of this webpage or at the sign-in table to find your poster location. Dress as if you are presenting at a conference. Presentations to judges should last no more than 5 minutes. Your project will have multiple judges, and they will not all be at your poster at the same time.
Check the maps at the sign-in table to find your poster location. Please make sure to be by your poster by 2:15 p.m. There's no guarantee a judge will have time to come back by if no one is there to present. At 5 p.m., meet in the ballroom for a brief program and announcement of the winners. You can take your poster, but leave the board and easel.
For questions, contact Lane_Murphy@baylor.edu.