ICAD 2026 ThinkTank Chair
Student ThinkTank
https://icad2026.icad.org/student-thinktank/
The ICAD 2026 Student ThinkTank will be held virtually on Friday, July 17, 2026-eleven days before the main conference begins. The ThinkTank will be a virtual full day Zoom meeting for graduate and advanced undergraduate students working on projects in auditory display and sonification. Students who participate in the ThinkTank receive intensive feedback on their works-in-progress from a panel of auditory display experts and ICAD student peers. In addition to providing insights and constructive feedback on individual student projects, the ThinkTank is intended to foster friendships and additional opportunities for on-going formal and informal mentorship of students by the ICAD community. The ThinkTank is free of charge.
Important ThinkTank Dates
March 20, 2026: Deadline to apply to participate in the ThinkTank
Late April, 2026: Notifications delivered
July 17, 2026: ThinkTank virtual meeting (8:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST | 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM CET)
July 27, 2026: ThinkTank local in-person meeting (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM CET)
Who Can Participate?
We invite graduate students or advanced undergraduate students to apply to present their work at the ThinkTank. Applicants who are selected to participate in the ThinkTank will be required to prepare and present a virtual, semi-formal presentation of their work. Students who apply to present their work are expected to be available to participate in the entirety of the day's activities. We welcome applications from all students interested in auditory display and sonification, even if they have never attended a previous ICAD conference.
Participating as an Observer
In addition to the formal presentations of selected applicants, it is also possible to attend the session as an observer. If you'd like to register to attend as an observer, please send an email to thinktank@icad2026.icad.org. We extend a special invitation to students of auditory display and sonification to attend the ThinkTank as observers, particularly if they are new to the field and/or their work is not yet ready for a formal ThinkTank presentation.
ThinkTank Students and Participation at the Main ICAD Conference
ThinkTank presenters are strongly encouraged but not required to attend the main conference at one of the local sites (Bielefeld, Germany, Barcelona, Spain, and Troy, NY, USA) . More information on the main conference is available at https://icad2026.icad.org/. Applying to the ThinkTank does not preclude students from presenting the same work as a paper, poster, or extended abstract at the main conference. ThinkTank students are encouraged to consult with their research supervisors about whether the work might also warrant a submission to be presented to the main conference.
Main Conference In-person Social Meeting
ThinkTank participants who are able to attend the main conference at one of the local sites (Bielefeld, Germany – Barcelona, Spain – Troy, NY, USA) will meet in-person the day before the main conference on Monday, July 27 to network and follow-up on the work presented at the ThinkTank. More details on this in-person social meeting will be forthcoming.
What Happens at the ThinkTank?
Student ThinkTank participants will prepare semi-formal presentations of their on-going work in auditory display and sonification. Following each presentation, the panel and the student audience will offer constructive feedback and intensive discussion of the project. The ThinkTank is an especially useful opportunity for students to receive help with identifying and addressing potential pitfalls to the advancement of their projects. In addition to the presentation, the ThinkTank will provide opportunities for breakout discussion sessions on topics of interest to ICAD students and other opportunities for informal networking and discussion of mutual interests.
How to Apply to Participate
ThinkTank applications should include a cover letter, a two-page research summary, a letter of recommendation from the student's current advisor/supervisor, and a 1-page CV, as described below.
1. One-page Cover letter
Your cover letter should include the following information:
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Statement of interest in participating in the ThinkTank.
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Full name of School and Department in which you are taking your degree.
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Current stage in your academic program (e.g., completed MS, 2 years into PhD).
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Name of the supervising professor.
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Your full contact information: address, phone number, and email address.
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Title of the research and keywords pertinent to the research.
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The URL of your web page (if any).
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A statement indicating whether you will attend the main conference in person at one of the local sites. If yes, please state the site at which you will be attending.
2. Two-page research summary
The research summary should provide a clear overview of (1) research that you have already conducted in auditory displays or sonification; (2) research you are in the process of planning or completing; and/or (3) ideas for research that you would like to pursue. The statement should discuss the relevance and potential impact of the research on the field, and discuss its broader impact in the world. This research statement will be shared with the expert panel and other participants before the ThinkTank meeting.
You are encouraged to include the following sections:
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Introduction, background, and problem description.
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Goal of the research.
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Current status of the research, including preliminary results (if any)
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Broader impact of this research.
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Potential topics to be discussed at the ThinkTank
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Expected outcomes from participating in the ThinkTank: What do you hope to get out of this experience?
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Any additional suggestions for topics that you would like to discuss with peers and panelists during breakout sessions (career advice, on-going mentoring opportunities, collaborations, etc.)
3. Letter of recommendation
Include a letter of recommendation written by your current advisor or supervisor. Your advisor/supervisor is asked to verify that you are a graduate (or undergraduate) student, working in the area of sonification or auditory display. Advisors are also encouraged to include an assessment of the current status of your research and an indication of the expected date of its completion. In addition, your advisor is encouraged to indicate what they hope you would gain by participating in the ThinkTank. If your advisor/supervisor prefers, they can submit the letter directly to thinktank@icad2026.icad.org
4. Curriculum vitae (CV)
Please prepare a one-page CV that relates your background, relevant experience, and research accomplishments.
Selection and Notification
Up to 10 applications will be selected for participation. The criteria used to select participants will include: (1) the relevance of the research to the field of auditory display and sonification; (2) the clarity and quality of the research questions posed in the application; and (3) the potential for the applicant to benefit from participating in the ThinkTank. We will also strive to select applicants and research topics to represent: (1) the diversity of people and interests in the auditory display community; (2) students in all phases of the thesis or dissertation process; and (3) students from each of the three local conference sites. Notifications will be forthcoming in late April 2026.
All applicants may participate in the ThinkTank to observe the presentations and join in the discussions; however, only the ten selected submissions will be able to make a formal oral presentation.
How to Submit
Please email your submission materials (PDF format preferred) by 20th March 2026 to the ThinkTank chair, Michael Nees (thinktank@icad2026.icad.org).
ThinkTank Expert Panel
The ThinkTank Panel will include a number of international researchers who work across a range of disciplines in auditory display and sonification. The full panel will be announced in Spring 2026.
Questions?
Please contact the ThinkTank chair, Michael Nees (thinktank@icad2026.icad.org), if you have any questions.