2026 ERC EARTH Industry Forum & NSF Site Visit

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The future of cooling starts here. NSF EARTH warmly invites you to the University of Maryland October 19-20, 2026 for the 2026 ERC EARTH Industry Day & NSF Site Visit. 

Together, we'll explore bold ideas, transformative research, and the partnerships advancing the future of sustainable cooling. This year's featured Industry Day,“Cooling the Future: Next-Gen Data Center Industry Day,” will spotlight the innovations powering tomorrow's data centers and a more energy-efficient world. 

NSF EARTH Industry Day (October 19, 2026) is open to all, we're happy to welcome you to the University of Maryland this October, registration is now open! 

EVENT REGISTRATION

2026 ERC EARTH Industry Day & NSF Site Visit Registration

Schedule Overview 
Monday | October 19 (Open Session)
Cooling the Future: Next-Gen Data Center Industry Day 
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Eastern Time)

Tuesday | October 20 (Closed Session)
NSF Review
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Eastern Time)

Open sessions are available to all guests, while closed sessions are limited to EARTH personnel, EARTH Industrial Consortium Members, EARTH Scientific Advisory Board Members, and invited National Laboratory Partners (NDA Required).

Register Now

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Event Schedule

  EVENT SCHEDULE

Event Schedule - All times Eastern.
MONDAY | October 19, 2026 | Cooling the Future: Next-Gen Data Center Industry Day
Emcee:
TimeEventLocation
8:00 AMArrival and Breakfast RefreshmentsAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
8:50 AMWelcomeAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
9:00 AMNSF EARTH Overview Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
9:20 AMKeynote Address Scott Tease, CVP, HPC and Sovereign AI Business Development at AMD Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
10:05 AMBreakAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
10:30 AMCooling the Future: Next-Gen Data Center Industry Day Moderated Panel and Q&A 1Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
11:30 AMLunchAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
12:00 PMSpeaker Esube Bekele, VP of Technology for AI, IQTAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
12:30 PMCooling the Future: Next-Gen Data Center Industry Day Moderated Panel and Q&A 2Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
1:30 PMBreakAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
2:00 PMCooling the Future: Next-Gen Data Center Industry Day Moderated Panel and Q&A 3Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
Concurrent Sessions
3:00 PMUniversity of Maryland Engineering Facilities and Laboratory TourUMD Engineering Complex
3:30 PMIndustrial Advisory Board Meeting (120) min, closed session)Kim Building, Kay Boardrooms 1107 & 1111 + Virtual
4:00 PMNSF Private MeetingClark Hall, Overlook Room + Virtual
4:30 PMNSF & Council of Scholars (25 min, closed session)Kim Building, Kay Boardrooms 1107 & 1111 
5:00 PMNSF & Industrial Advisory Board (25 min, closed session)Kim Building, Kay Boardrooms 1107 & 1111 
5:30 PMNSF & Council of Deans (60 min, closed session)Kim Building, Kay Boardrooms 1107 & 1111 
5:30 PMNetworking ReceptionTBD
Concurrent Sessions End
6:30 PMDinnerTBD
  
Tuesday | October 20, 2026 | NSF Site Visit
TimeEventLocation
7:00 AMBreakfast Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
8:00 AMWelcome from Samuel Graham, Dean, Clark School of Engineering, University of MarylandAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
8:05 AMState of the EARTH Overview, Organization, and EvaluationAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
8:45 AMThrust 1 OverviewAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
9:40 AMBreakAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
10:00 AMThrusts 2 OverviewAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
10:45 AMThrusts 3 OverviewAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
11:40 AMLunch & Stakeholder IntroductionsAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
Concurrent Sessions
1:00 PMStudent Poster Symposium & Networking Reception Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom Lounge
1:00 PMNSF Private Meeting (30 min, closed session)Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Nanticoke Boardroom + Virtual
Concurrent Sessions End
2:30 PMTestbed OverviewAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
3:10 PMBreakAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
3:30 PMEngineering Workforce Development and Impact & Belonging OverviewAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
4:30 PMInnovation Ecosystem OverviewAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
5:25 PMClosing RemarksAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
5:30 PMNetworking Reception Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
5:30 PMNSF Private DinnerAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Nanticoke Boardroom
6:15 PMDinnerAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
7:00 PMSpeaker Eric Wachsman, co-Founder, Ion Storage SystemsAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
7:45 PMAwards CeremonyAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom
8:00 PMAdjournAdele H. Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom

Hotel Accommodations

The Hotel

The Hotel at the University of Maryland

Preferred NSF ERC EARTH Hotel, EARTH Reserved Room pricing and reservation link is available during registration.
Group Reservation Name: EARTH Fall 2026 Conference Room Block
The Hotel at The University of Maryland

Other Hotel Accommodation Options

Other hotel accommodation options near UMD, The Hotel at The University of Maryland is the only hotel with NSF ERC EARTH special pricing and reservation link.
More Hotel Options

Air Travel

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Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)

From the Lower Level roadway (outside Concourse A/B or outside the International Terminal), take the BWI Express Bus B-30 (which runs every 40 minutes) to the Greenbelt Metro Station, take the Green Line and get off on the first stop at College Park. Approximate cost is $9. Taxi service from the airport to campus will cost approximately $65.00.
Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)

Reagan Washington National (DCA)

Located in Arlington, Virginia, this airport is located about 15 miles south of College Park. Travel can be slow through downtown Washington, D.C. during rush hours; approximate driving time is 40 minutes. You can take the Metrorail from the airport. Take the Yellow Line (toward Mt. Vernon Square), transferring to the Green Line (toward Greenbelt), and get off at College Park/U of MD station. Follow remaining directions above under Travel by Train. Taxi service from the airport to campus will cost approximately $40.00.
Reagan Washington National (DCA)

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Located near Herndon, Virginia, this airport is about 35 miles southwest of College Park. Driving time is approximately one hour. Bus service is available to take you to the West Falls Church Metrorail station where you will take the Orange Line (toward New Carrollton), transferring to the Green Line (toward Greenbelt), and get off at College Park/U of MD station. Follow remaining directions above under Travel by Train. Taxi service from the airport to campus will cost approximately $55.00.
Washington Dulles International (IAD)
Parking near Adele H. Stamp Student Union
Visitor Parking