During the three days of the main conference (excluding the workshops), a Luncheon Forum with different content each day will be held at Hougaku Hall, 2F, Music Hall Building.
Lunch will be provided for all participants, and we warmly encourage you to pick up your lunch box and join the forum while eating. Lunch will be served as a Japanese-style Makunouchi lunch box, accompanied by a carton of Japanese tea. Separate lunch boxes for vegetarian and halal dietary requirements will also be available.
Food and drinks are permitted inside Hougaku Hall only during the lunch break; however, please note that eating and drinking are not allowed in the upper balcony seating area.
Lunch Forum (April 8)
Main Conference Venue | Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 | 12:30 – 13:30 (Lunch boxes provided.)
Competition & Art Showcase
The Competition Chair will introduce this year’s competition events and participating teams.
The Art Gallery Chair will present this year’s expanded program and highlight the featured exhibits.
Meet the Editor Event
An editor from Wiley, well known for the Advanced series journals, will share the editorial perspective on paper submission and peer review.
A Q&A session will also be included. This is a must-attend session for all students, postdoctoral researchers, and researchers preparing to submit papers.
Diversity & Inclusion Spotlight Talks (April 9)
Chairs and Organizers: Emiko Uchiyama and Nana Obayashi
Main Conference Venue | Thursday, April 9th, 2026 | 12:30 – 13:30 (Lunch boxes provided.)
About: The Diversity & Inclusion Spotlight Talks feature short presentations from selected researchers whose work advances diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in soft robotics. Held as part of the main single-track program, the session is open to all conference attendees and highlights efforts that broaden participation, promote equitable research practices, and amplify underrepresented voices.
Host: Nana Obayashi (New York University)
Speakers and Talk Titles:
- Danna Arias (“A Reproducibility Challenge in Soft Robotics for Disabilities”)
- Chizaramekpere Osuji (“Designing for Everyone: Inclusive Soft Robotics Education in Underserved Communities”)
- X. Yamile Sandoval-Castro (“Democratizing High-Performance Soft Actuators through Advanced Manufacturing and Embodied Intelligence”)
- Marquise Bell (“Intentionality as a Tool for Promoting Diverse and Inclusive Spaces”)
Lunch Forum (April 10)
Main Conference Venue | Friday, April 10th, 2026 | 12:30 – 13:30 (Lunch boxes provided.)
Meet the Editor Event
An editor from Wiley, well known for the Advanced series journals, will share the editorial perspective on paper submission and peer review. A Q&A session will also be included. If you were unable to attend the Meet the Editor event on the first day, please take advantage of this second opportunity.
