ANNUAL INDUCTION CEREMONY & INNOVATION SHOWCASE

Thursday, October 8, 2026
Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Seattle

An evening to honor Washington’s science and engineering leaders and showcase research and innovations shaping our state.

Science and Engineering in the service of Washington

Each fall, the Washington State Academy of Sciences brings together researchers, innovators, policymakers, and other regional leaders to honor the newest members of WSAS and the Washington Junior Academy of Sciences (WAJAS). This year’s program also includes a “Grown in Washington” dinner and a showcase spotlighting innovations in agriculture, energy, and health — a reflection of WSAS’s ongoing work on AI and agriculture and a preview of the Academy’s future work on energy and health.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

3:00 – 4:30 PM | Members only: Thought Leaders Panel & Discussions

4:30 – 5:00 PM | Doors Open to All

5:00 – 5:30 PM | Welcome and Keynote

5:30 – 6:30 PM | Research & Innovation Showcase

6:30 – 8:30 PM | Keynote, Dinner, and New Member Induction

8:30 – 9:00 PM | Networking and Conversation

Collaboration on Complex Challenges

Our dinner keynote speakers, one from policy and one from science, will share stories and lessons of collaborating across boundaries of discipline, sector, and culture to address complex challenges.

Denny Heck
Lieutenant Governor of Washington and President of the Washington State Senate

David Baker
Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington; 2024 Recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry

ANNUAL INDUCTION CEREMONY & INNOVATION SHOWCASE

Thursday, October 8, 2026
Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Seattle

An evening to honor Washington’s science and engineering leaders and showcase research and innovations shaping our state.

Register Now

Science and Engineering in the service of Washington

Each fall, the Washington State Academy of Sciences brings together researchers, innovators, policymakers, and other regional leaders to honor the newest members of WSAS and the Washington Junior Academy of Sciences (WAJAS). This year’s program also includes a “Grown in Washington” dinner and a showcase spotlighting innovations in agriculture, energy, and health — a reflection of WSAS’s ongoing work on AI and agriculture and a preview of the Academy’s future work on energy and health.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

3:00 – 4:30 PM | Members only: Thought Leaders Panel & Discussions

4:30 – 5:00 PM | Doors Open to All

5:00 – 5:30 PM | Welcome and Keynote

5:30 – 6:30 PM | Research & Innovation Showcase

6:30 – 8:30 PM | Keynote, Dinner, and New Member Induction

8:30 – 9:00 PM | Networking and Conversation

Collaboration on Complex Challenges

Our dinner keynote speakers, one from policy and one from science, will share stories and lessons of collaborating across boundaries of discipline, sector, and culture to address complex challenges.

Denny Heck
Lieutenant Governor of Washington and President of the Washington State Senate

David Baker
Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington; 2024 Recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry

An Experience Built for Connection and Insight

The afternoon belongs to our members and invited regional leaders, with a Thought Leadership Panel and topic-based breakout discussions at 3:00 PM. From 4:30 onward, we welcome the broader community for an evening built around celebration, conversation, and learning.

New Member Induction

The evening’s centerpiece is the induction of new WSAS members and the formal recognition of their commitment to serve the state. The program includes a keynote address and remarks celebrating the newest members of our community, along with recognition of some of the state’s leading high school STEM students as WAJAS fellows.

Grown in Washington Dinner

WSAS spent much of the past year exploring opportunities for Washington agriculture in the age of AI. Sit down to a dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients and learn about the innovations behind what’s on your plate, in the company of people doing fascinating work.

Research & Innovation Showcase

Explore innovation corners spotlighting Washington agriculture and previewing future WSAS initiatives in energy and health. Engage with a student research showcase featuring winning science fair projects and sponsored booths connecting attendees with organizations advancing research, innovation, and impact across Washington.