Out to Innovate Summit is a biennial cross-generational event that provides an educational and supportive environment for career development and enrichment for LGBTQ+ students, academics, and career professionals in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Established in 2010, this has become our signature event.
Out to Innovate Summit 2026 is happening!
Theme: Innovating for Inclusion
March 7, 2026. University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA
We are excited to officially announce that an "Out to Innovate Summit" will be taking place again on March 7, 2026, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. It has been far too long since we have convened our Out to Innovate Summit. This is an opportunity to support one another, our LGBTQ+ communities, and the STEMM community. We'd love to connect with new members and re-connect with long-standing members.
Draft Program
|
8:30 am |
Breakfast Buffet |
| 9:00 am | Welcoming Remarks |
| 9:15 am | Motivational Speaker - Kei Koizumi, former WH Science & Technology Office (confirmed) |
| 10:00 am | Plenary One: "Sexual Identity and the Law" - Jennifer Pizer (Lambda Legal, confirmed), and Ilan Meyer (Williams Institute, confirmed) |
| 11:00 am |
Workshops
|
| 12:00 pm |
Lunch - Out and Accomplished Panel |
| 1:00 pm |
Keynote: "LGBTQ+ Healthcare: From Practice to Policy", Laura Taylor (USC), Sofia Gruskin (USC), Claire Lunde (AAAS Policy Fellow NSF) (all confirmed) |
| 2:15 pm |
Plenary Two: "The Science around Sex and Gender" - Augustin Fuentes, Biologial Anthropologist, Princeton University, author of Sex is a Spectrum, Princeton Press. (confirmed virtual presentation) This plenary session is sponsored by Michael Nishimura in honor of Rochelle Diamond. |
| 3:15 pm |
Workshops
|
| 4:30 pm |
Reception at One Archive, featuring Out to Innovate history and Recognition Awardess (snacks and beverages included) |
| 5:30 pm |
Closing Ceremony and Community Appreciation |
| 6:00 pm |
Networking (dinner on your own; registration does not include dinner) |
Registration is now live! Registration includes admission to all event programming and breakfast, lunch, reception snacks, transportation across campus from meeting site to One Archives. Registration does not include parking, dinner, lodging, travel.
Registration fees are:
| OTI Member | Non-Member* | |
| Students | $15 | $50 |
| Professionals | $50 | $100 |
*Join Out to Innovate to receive discounted registration!
Follow this link to register for Out to Innovate Summit 2026.
We are grateful to our 2026 Summit Sponsors: Point Foundation, David Bohnett, Michael NIshimura and other generous individuals
For more information about past events and links to photoalbums and conference videos, click on each event below:
- Summit 2010: Inaugural event, hosted by the LGBTQ+ Community from University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA, October 9, 2010. Keynote Speaker: Dean Hamer
- Summit 2012: hosted by the oSTEM chapter at The Ohio State University, Columbus OH, October 13-14, 2012. Keynote Speaker: Nergis Malvavala
- Summit 2014: Joint event with oSTEM 4th National Conference, hosted at the Georgia Tech Conference Center, Atlanta GA, November 8-9, 2014. Keynote Speakers: Lynn Conway, Tam O'Shaugnessy
- Summit 2017: Danvers MA, March 4-5, 2017. Keynote Speaker: Victoria Orphan
- Summit 2019: hosted by the USC Lambda Alumni at University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA, March 16-17, 2019 . Keynote Speaker: David Bohnett
- Summit 2020: Joint virtual event with the oSTEM 10th Annual Conference, November 12-15, 2020. Keynote Speakers: Mylene Dipenta, Sian Lewis
- nanoSummit 2021: This virtual event celebrated the recipients of the 2021 Out to Innovate Recognition Awards, the 2020 Ben Barres Fellowships, and the 2021 Out to Innovate Scholarships. Tonia Poteat, one of our first Out to Innovate Scholarship recipients, was our keynote speaker.