Exploring Physics & Engineering 2026
Exploring Physics & Engineering is an outreach event organized by Continuum at UCLA and hosted at Glendale Community College.
Registration is required for attendance and will close once it’s full, or on Tuesday, November 17, whichever comes first. To ensure the highest quality experience, this event will be held exclusively in-person. Complimentary coffee/pastries and lunch will be provided for all registered attendees. Please use a personal email if possible — some .edu addresses have bounced in the past.
Featuring leading researchers from Caltech and USC, this summit invites high school, community college, and university students to explore the academic pathways and frontier research behind physical biology, quantum materials, neutrino physics, energy and propulsion, and electronic materials. Our speakers hold appointments spanning physics, biology, biophysics, mechanical, aerospace, chemical, electrical, and computer engineering, and materials science.
Moving past dense academic lectures, the day features research talks and open audience Q&As with Caltech faculty Rob Phillips, co-author of the textbook Physical Biology of the Cell, along with professors of physics, Nai-Chang Yeh and Ryan Patterson. They are joined by Paul Ronney, professor and former chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at USC, and Jayakanth Ravichandran, professor of chemical engineering & materials science and electrical & computer engineering of USC. Building on Continuum’s Exploring Physics at UCLA (June 2026) and the Physics Transfer Summit (February 2026), this Glendale gathering brings physics and engineering together so students can see how fundamental science and applied engineering intersect across modern research pathways.
Speakers:
Rob Phillips — Professor of Biophysics & Biology, Caltech
Nai-Chang Yeh — Professor of Physics, Caltech
Ryan Patterson — Professor of Physics, Caltech
Paul Ronney — Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, USC
Jayakanth Ravichandran — Professor of Chemical & Materials Engineering, USC
Short abstracts and bios of speakers will be posted soon.
What’s included
Dynamic sessions: Research talks paired with Q&A and conversation
Networking: Built-in time to meet faculty and fellow physics, engineering, and other STEM students from all over Southern California
Food: Coffee/pastries and lunch will be provided (details to registered attendees; vegetarian options available)
Free parking: Details will be provided to registered attendees
Schedule
8:30–9:10 AM — Check-In & Breakfast
9:10-9:15 AM — Opening Remarks & Overview
9:15–10:05 AM — Rob Phillips
10:10–11:00 AM — Nai-Chang Yeh
11:00–11:15 AM — Break
11:15 AM–12:05 PM — Ryan Patterson
12:05–1:05 PM — Lunch / Networking Reception
1:05–1:55 PM — Paul Ronney
2:00–2:50 PM — Jayakanth Ravichandran
2:50–3:00 PM — Closing
Parking & check-in
Check-in and breakfast begin at 8:30 AM in BV-101
Parking guidance for Glendale Community College will be sent to registered attendees
Accessibility & travel support
We aim to make this event accessible to everyone who wants to attend. If transportation is a financial barrier — especially if it would decide whether you can come in person — email us. Limited Southern California travel support may be available.
Contact
Questions or accessibility needs: sherryp1@ucla.edu
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and new events: @continuumphysics
Event page with flyer: https://www.continuumphysics.org/exploring-physics-and-engineering
All registered attendees will receive a reminder email before the event with check-in details and the latest agenda. If you don’t receive it, email Sherry ASAP — your address may have bounced.
Seating is limited, so reserve your spot early. Registration will close once capacity is reached.