Mark your calendar. On November 6, 2026, Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC) is teaming up with the Rutgers SAS Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program to bring a half-day tech conference to Cook Campus, and we want SAS EOF scholars and computer science students in the room, on the agenda, and on stage.
This isn’t a sit-and-listen kind of event. RU 1st Seminar is built to give students the tools, the networking, and the confidence to show up in tech and open source spaces, both on campus and beyond it. Whether your thing is software architecture, algorithm ethics, open source contribution, or something you haven’t found the words for yet, this is a space to say it out loud.
Why apply
Speaking at a conference is one of those experiences that changes how you see yourself, not just how your resume reads. Here’s what’s on the table for School of Arts and Sciences computer science applicants:
- A workshop to help you shape your idea into a strong, confident talk, so you’re not figuring it out alone
- Real mentorship from people who’ve been in your seat and want to see you succeed, not distant experts talking down from a stage
- A $200 Professional Development Grant from Support Inclusion in Tech and Amazon Web Services for each student selected
- A direct line into a global community of allies, sponsors, and open source leaders working to make tech genuinely open to everyone
Young adults remain some of the most underrepresented voices in tech conference lineups. SiNC exists to change that math, one scholar and one Computer Science student at a time, and Rutgers is exactly the kind of place that math gets rewritten. From the Yard to the tech hubs on Busch, this campus has never lacked for talent or grit; what’s been missing is a stage.
The applications are already coming in
We’ve started reviewing submissions, and we could not be more excited about the ideas already on the table. If you’ve been sitting on a talk idea, this is your sign to stop sitting on it. Every applicant gets access to a workshop designed to help turn a rough idea into a polished, confident session, so there’s genuinely nothing to lose by applying.
How to apply
Submit your session idea using the for here. Include your working title, a short session description, and a bio; the workshop will help you sharpen all three if you need it.
This is what SiNC calls the Fifth Freedom in action: the freedom to experience a thriving tech and open source community that is truly open to everyone, built through the equitable sharing of information and opportunity. On November 6, that growing community gathers at Cook Student Center, and we want your voice in it.
Questions about the application or the event? Reach out to the SiNC team at student@supportinclusionintech.com, we’re here to help you get your idea ready.