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ISR 40th Anniversary

Celebrating 40 Years of Systems Innovation

"For four decades, the Institute for Systems Research has advanced the science and engineering of complex systems - transforming the way we design, analyze and optimize technologies that power modern society."

Established in 1985 as one of the National Science Foundation’s original Engineering Research Centers, the Institute for Systems Research has grown into a permanent, interdisciplinary research institute within the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. Today, ISR brings together more than 60 faculty and researchers from across engineering, computer science, mathematics, business, public health and beyond.

On May 21–22, 2026, we will celebrate 40 years of innovation, collaboration and impact.

Join us in the Clark Hall Forum (Clark Hall, Room 1101) to highlight ISR's history and explore the future of systems science.

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Evening Reception and Dinner 

Time Event Speaker
5:30 p.m. Opening Reception

---
6:00 p.m.

Dinner Begins

 ---
6:15 p.m. Welcome Prof. Alireza Khaligh
Director
Institute for Systems Research
6:20 p.m.

Opening Remarks

Introduction by Director Khaligh

Prof. Samuel Graham
Dean
A. James Clark School of Engineering

Prof. William "Brit" Kirwan
Chancellor Emeritus of the University System of Maryland (USM)
President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Maryland
6:30 p.m. Industry Alumni Address: "It’s the System That Matters" Dr. Buno Pati
CEO, Founder, Investor
Centerview Capital Technology
Nexus Venture Partners
7:00 p.m.

Legacy Recognition

Recognition of founding and former ISR leadership

 Prof. Anthony Ephremides
Prof. Jeffrey Herrmann
Prof. Steve Marcus
Prof. Dana Nau
Prof. Michael Ball
7:15 p.m. Academia Alumni Address: "Celebrating ISR Through the Lens of My Research Journey: a Systems Perspective"

Prof. Mingyan Liu
Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering
T. C. Chang Professor of Engineering
University of Michigan
7:45 p.m.

Closing Toast

Followed by networking until the end of the event

 Prof. Alireza Khaligh
Director
Institute for Systems Research

Full-Day Symposium

Time Event Speaker
9:00 a.m. Welcome Prof. Alireza Khaligh
Director
Institute for Systems Research
9:05 a.m.

Opening Remarks: President Pines

Introduction by Director Khaligh

 Prof. Darryll J. Pines
President
University of Maryland
9:10 a.m.

Opening Remarks: Dean Varshney

 Prof. Amitabh Varshney
Dean
College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
9:15 a.m. "Transforming the Future Through NSF Engineering Research Centers" Dr. Don Lewis Millard
Directorate Head, Engineering Directorate
U.S. National Science Foundation
   Morning Session: ISR's Past and Present   
9:35 a.m. Academia and Research: "Exploration vs. Exploitation" Prof. P.R. Kumar
O’Donnell Foundation Chair I, Regents Professor
Member of National Academy of Engineering
Texas A&M University
9:55 a.m. Industry Alumni Address: "The Importance of Systems Thinking in Engineering" Dr. Rajiv Laroia
Co-Founder and CTO
More AI
Member of National Academy of Engineering
10:15 a.m. Academia and Research: "40 Years and Beyond: Secrets of Longevity and What Game Theory Tells Us"

Prof. Tamer Başar
Swanlund Endowed Chair Emeritus and CAS Professor Emeritus of ECE
Research Professor, Coordinated Science Laboratory
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Member of National Academy of Engineering
10:35 a.m. Coffee Break ---
10:50 a.m. "A Classic Academia Perspective" Prof. Anthony Ephremides
Distinguished University Professor Emeritus and Cynthia Kim Eminent Professor, Institute for Systems Research
University of Maryland
11:10 a.m. ISR@40 Commemorative Video ---
11:20 a.m. Student Poster Session and Working Lunch ---
Afternoon Session: The Future of Systems Research
12:40 p.m. "The Role of Systems Thinking in Building Factories of The Future" Prof. Satyandra K. (SK) Gupta
Smith International Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science
University of Southern California
1:00 p.m.

"AI & Math: A New Frontier for Systems Science"

Dr. Patrick Shafto
Program Manager
U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
1:20 p.m. "Advancing Power Distribution in Data Centers Through Solid-State Transformer (SST) Technology" Prof. Srdjan Lukic
Lampe Distinguished Professor
Deputy Director of NSF FREEDM ERC
North Carolina State University
1:40 p.m. "Innovation Management and Systems Thinking" Prof. Cheryl Druehl
Interim Dean and Professor
Costello College of Business
George Mason University
2:00 p.m. "Samples of ISR Transformational Results and Current-Future Challenges" Prof. John S. Baras
Distinguished University Professor
Lockheed Martin Chair in Systems Engineering
2:15 p.m. Panel: What's Next for ISR

Prof. Tamer Başar
Swanlund Endowed Chair Emeritus and CAS Professor Emeritus of ECE
Research Professor, Coordinated Science Laboratory
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Reza Ghanadan
Professor and Executive Director of Innovations in AI

Dr. Eric Moret
Director
Northrop Grumman

Dr. Buno Pati
CEO, Founder, Investor
Centerview Capital Technology
Nexus Venture Partners

Prof. Ankur Srivastava
Director, Semiconductor Initiative and Innovation
University of Maryland
3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks Prof. Alireza Khaligh
Director
Institute for Systems Research

 

Headshot of Alireza Khaligh, a man smiling wearing a suitProf. Alireza Khaligh
Director
Institute for Systems Research		 Headshot of Rajiv Laroia, a man smiling wearing a blue polo shirtDr. Rajiv Laroia
Co-founder and CTO
More AI
Member of National Academy of Engineering
Headshot of John Baras, a man smiling wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and blue tieProf. John S. Baras
Distinguished University Professor
Lockheed Martin Chair in Systems Engineering		 Headshot of Mingyan Liu, a woman smiling wearing a dark suit and light shirtProf. Mingyan Liu
Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering
T. C. Chang Professor of Engineering
University of Michigan
Headshot of Tamer Basar, a man smiling wearing a dark suit and light shirtProf. Tamer Başar
Swanlund Endowed Chair Emeritus and CAS Professor Emeritus of ECE
Research Professor, Coordinated Science Laboratory
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Member of National Academy of Engineering		 Headshot of Srdjan Lukic, a man smiling wearing a polo shirt and blazerProf. Srdjan Lukic
Lampe Distinguished Professor
Deputy Director of NSF FREEDM ERC
North Carolina State University
Headshot of Cheryl Druehl, a woman smiling wearing glasses and a textured blazerProf. Cheryl Druehl
Interim Dean and Professor
Costello College of Business
George Mason University		 Headshot of Don Millard, a man smiling wearing glasses and a purple shirtDr. Don Lewis Millard
Directorate Head, Engineering Directorate
U.S. National Science Foundation
Headshot of Anthony Ephremides, a man smiling wearing a gray polo shirtProf. Anthony Ephremides
Distinguished University Professor Emeritus and Cynthia Kim Eminent Professor, Institute for Systems Research
University of Maryland		 Headshot of Eric Moret, a smiling man wearing a green suitDr. Eric Moret
Director
Northrop Grumman
Reza Ghanadan
Professor and Executive Director of Innovations in AI		 Headshot of Buno Pati, a man smiling and wearing a dark shirtDr. Buno Pati
CEO, Founder, Investor
Centerview Capital Technology
Nexus Venture Partners
Headshot of Sam Graham, a man smiling wearing glasses and a suitProf. Samuel Graham
Dean
A. James Clark School of Engineering		 Headshot of Darryll Pines, a man smiling wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a red tieProf. Darryll J. Pines
President
University of Maryland
Headshot of Satyandra Gupta, a man smiling wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a light shirtProf. Satyandra K. (SK) Gupta
Smith International Professor of Mechanical Engineering
and Computer Science
University of Southern California		 Headshot of Patrick Shafto, a man smiling wearing a hat and button down shirtDr. Patrick Shafto
Program Manager
U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Headshot of William Kirwan, a man smiling wearing glasses and a suitProf. William "Brit" Kirwan
Chancellor Emeritus of the University System of Maryland (USM)
President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Maryland		 Headshot of Ankur Srivastava, a smiling man wearing a suitProf. Ankur Srivastava
Director, Semiconductor Initiative and Innovation
University of Maryland
Headshot of P.R. Kumar, a man smiling wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a red tieProf. P.R. Kumar
O’Donnell Foundation Chair I, Regents Professor
Member of National Academy of Engineering
Texas A&M University		 Headshot of Amitabh Varshney, a man smiling wearing a dark suit and striped tieProf. Amitabh Varshney
Dean
College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences

University of Maryland, College Park
A. James Clark Hall
AJC Forum (Room 1101)
8278 Paint Branch Dr
College Park, MD 20742

ISR@40 Poster Presentations

The Institute for Systems Research invites poster submissions for the ISR 40th Anniversary Celebration, to be held May 21–22 at the University of Maryland. The poster session will take place on Friday, May 22.


This session is an opportunity to showcase the breadth of current ISR-affiliated research and engage with faculty, students and invited guests from academia, industry and government. Submissions may represent ongoing work, recent results or emerging research directions. No full paper submission is required.

Learn more and submit your poster.


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