LAS Office of Public Engagement

The Office of Public Engagement invites faculty, staff, students, and community partners to submit proposals for the 2026 Public Engagement Summit — Publicly Engaged Solutions to 21st Century Societal Grand Challenges: Illinois Leadership and Innovation. This free, full-day Summit will highlight publicly engaged research, teaching, and service partnerships addressing today’s most pressing societal challenges. It includes basic, participatory action/ use-inspired research; implementation and demonstration projects, and service-learning courses and other activities.

The Summit will showcase collaborations between the university and community organizations, governments, nonprofits, and businesses — locally and globally — focused on promising or best practices and impact.