Computing Research Association

10/16/2026

By 2035, drones could move goods, medical supplies, and information at a scale comparable to highways and the electric grid.

On Tuesday, November 3 at 2:00pm ET, the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is hosting its next Community Chat with the authors of Computing on the Fly: Navigating a Vision for the Future of Drone Computing, a recent report drawn from a visioning workshop supported by the National Science Foundation and IEEE Computer Society.

Report authors Kevin Butler (University of Florida), Christopher Stewart (The Ohio State University), Nils Aschenbruck (Universität Osnabrück), Ufuk Topcu (The University of Texas at Austin), and Deborah Silver (Rutgers University) will present key findings and recommendations for research, industry, and policy.

Two guest speakers will include Dirk Giles (USDA Forest Service) on how the agency currently uses drones across fire management, reforestation, hydrology, and infrastructure inspection, as well as Sabine Brunswicker (Purdue University) on drone safety and Purdue’s program for testing and verifying AI-enabled aviation autonomy.

Can’t attend? Sign up anyway and you’ll receive a recording.

Register here: https://cra-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jCt_D2C-S-q6cUT4wjOZsQ

10/16/2026

The Computing Community Consortium’s latest Community Chat, Powering the Solution: Balancing Computing's Energy Demands with Its Contributions to Sustainability, took place last week! The webinar and Q&A was a fantastic way to explore questions around how to make computing more sustainable, from carbon-aware scheduling at Google to impacts on agriculture and ecology to the impacts of data centers on our communities.

Couldn't make it live? Watch the webinar recording here:

Join the authors of the CACM article "Balancing Sustainable Computi...

10/15/2026

Hot off the press!

Check out the October edition of CRA's Computing Research News, featuring:
🔸2026 CRA Summit Report
🔹2026 CRA Academic Member Book
🔸New CRA pulse survey on CPT authorizations

And so much more: https://cra.org/crn/

10/15/2026

Nominate a Future Leader: CRA-E Graduate Fellows Program 🚀

The nomination period is NOW OPEN for the CRA-E Graduate Fellows Program! Seize this opportunity to support a promising Ph.D. candidate and assist them in becoming a leader within the field of computing education.

By participating in significant initiatives and cultivating a national network of committed peers and faculty, fellows acquire essential professional experience. With an average commitment of only about 5 hours per month, the program offers great flexibility.

Act fast to nominate your standout student—the deadline is Friday, December 4th.

🔗 Find details and submit your nomination here: https://cra.org/crae/activities/fellows/

10/14/2026

What is it actually like to do computing research?

That was one of the questions Steven Sanchez, a computer science student at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Houston, hoped to answer when he applied to CRA’s Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DREU) program.

Over the course of the summer, Steven went from having limited research experience — and little background in AI — to working alongside PhD students, contributing to research on the safety and reliability of AI systems, and helping write and submit an academic paper.

Working with mentor Ali Ghanbari, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, also gave Steven a firsthand look at the day-to-day experience of a research lab — and changed how he thinks about his future.

“Right now I’m definitely way more interested in doing a PhD than I was before this program,” Steven said. “I know what it’s like now.”

Read Steven’s DREU story: https://cra.org/crn/2026/09/learning-to-think-like-a-researcher-steven-sanchezs-dreu-experience/

The DREU program is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

10/12/2026

🚨 Two days left to nominate an outstanding undergraduate researcher!

Nominations for the 2026-2027 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Awards close Wednesday, October 14, at 9:00 PM ET.

If there’s an undergraduate researcher whose work and potential deserve national recognition, now is the time to put them forward.

Submit your nomination by October 14: https://cra.jotform.com/261536535485868

10/09/2026

What do we mean when we talk about artificial intelligence in computing education?
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in education, research, and everyday life, having a shared understanding of computer science, artificial intelligence, and AI literacy — and how they relate — matters.

The Computing Research Association’s Defining AI for Computing Education framework offers that shared foundation. Developed through a collaborative process bringing together perspectives from K–12 and higher education, computing research, industry, policy, professional societies, and other organizations, the framework provides common definitions and addresses misconceptions about the relationship between CS and AI.
Now, we’re inviting the broader community to add its support.

Explore the framework and add your individual endorsement. You can also express interest in helping your academic unit or organization — including a department, school, or college — become an endorser: https://cra.org/defining-ai-for-computing-education/

10/08/2026

Does all the math have to come before students can begin learning artificial intelligence (AI)?

Many traditional computer science programs require four or five dedicated mathematics courses before students enter core AI coursework.

The NSF LEVEL UP AI report “Math for AI” proposes restructuring that pathway — not by reducing mathematical rigor, but by organizing essential concepts into focused modules that can be taught through dedicated “Math for AI” courses or integrated into computing and AI coursework.

The goal is to give students the mathematics they need, when they need it, without creating unnecessary bottlenecks to AI education.

Explore the recommendations: https://cra.org/do-students-really-need-four-or-five-math-prerequisites-before-they-can-begin-learning-ai/

10/07/2026

⏳ One week left to recognize an outstanding undergraduate researcher.

Nominations for the 2026-2027 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Awards close Wednesday, October 14, at 9:00 PM ET.

If an undergraduate researcher in your academic unit stands out for their research contributions and potential, now is the time to put them forward.

🏅 Winners receive up to $1,500 in travel support to attend a research conference of their choice, with runners-up, finalists, and honorable mentions also receiving national recognition.

Who in your academic unit deserves to be recognized?

Submit your nomination by October 14: https://cra.jotform.com/261536535485868

10/06/2026

Join the UR2PhD team tomorrow for the second Graduate School Application Workshop!

Wednesday’s session is all about “Finding Your Fit: Programs, Advisors, and Research”

If you’re feeling daunted by applying to grad schools or you’re not sure where to begin, this session can help you better understand the various types of programs and factors that may impact your shortlist.

Whether you’re committed to applying or simply interested in learning more, this session is designed to help answer your questions.

🗓️Date: Wednesdays through November 11
⌚Time: 12 pm ET | 11am CT | 10am MT | 9am PT
🔗 Register: https://cra-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/l0wb0zGOTWmBRGba6tswHA