LESC: Twenty Years of Energy, Impact & Joy
About this Event
The Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion (LESC) at UC San Diego celebrates Twenty Years of Energy, Impact & Joy at this special, gathering in honoring Professor Y. Shirley Meng.
Date: October 14-15 2026
Location: Scripps Seaside Forum, La Jolla
Sponsored by the Electrochemical Society (ECS) Student Chapter at UC San Diego
DAY 1 AGENDA
DAY 1 | RECONNECT & REDISCOVER: The LESC Family Reunion
Morning
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:45 AM
Welcome Hub Open
🕑: 08:45 AM - 09:00 AM
Opener: "The LESC Story in 5 Minutes"
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:15 AM
Welcome
Host: Dr. Shirley Meng
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:45 AM
Battery Slam - Round 1
Host: Multiple
Info: In this two-part session, alumni are invited to tell their story: an expected career moment, crazy experiment, or the one thing LESC taught you that no textbook could.
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:35 AM
Break
Info: Coffee with an ocean view.
🕑: 10:05 AM - 10:35 AM
Battery Slam - Round 2
Info: In this two-part session, alumni are invited to tell their story: an expected career moment, crazy experiment, or the one thing LESC taught you that no textbook could.
🕑: 10:35 AM - 11:00 AM
LESC Trivia Battle
Info: A rapid-fire quiz about all things LESC.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
"What Will Batteries Look Like in 50 Years?"
Host: TBD
🕑: 11:20 AM - 11:30 AM
Group Photo #1: “The LESC Family”
🕑: 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM
Lunch
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:10 PM
"Mentorship Moments"
Info: An opportunity for guests to recount their stories in honor of Dr. Shirley Meng and LESC.
🕑: 02:10 PM - 02:50 PM
Blindfold Coin Cell Assembly Race
Info: The ultimate LESC flex. Who can assemble a CR2032 coin cell blindfolded, fastest and most correctly? A head-to-head tournament on stage with live camera feed projected on the big screen
“The Periodic Playlist” — Theme Song Premiere & AI Songs
Info: The centerpiece: a live premiere of “People Always Say It’s Being Tough in LESC,” originally a poem by LESC alumna, Dr. Yixuan Li.
🕑: 03:45 PM - 05:20 PM
Break
🕑: 03:45 PM - 05:20 PM
The LESC Talent Show — Opening
🕑: 05:20 PM - 06:15 PM
Golden Hour Break
Info: Enjoy the sunset, take photos, refresh for dinner
Welcome Reception
Info: Welcome drinks on the terrace as the sun sets over the Pacific. Curated wine selection and champagne—elegant, relaxed, and perfectly paired with the ocean view.
🕑: 06:45 PM - 08:30 PM
Gala Dinner: “Elements of Excellence”
🕑: 08:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Dance Party on the Lawn
DAY 2 AGENDA
DAY 2 | LOOKING FORWARD: Big Ideas, New Paths & the Road Ahead
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Breakfast
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:10 AM
Day 2 Opening Remarks
Info: Quick energy recap of Day 1 highlights, and what's in store for Day 2.
🕑: 09:10 AM - 09:25 AM
"Where It All Started"
Host: UC San Diego ECS Student Chapter
Info: A brief history of the UC San Diego ECS Student Chapter and a tribute to the culture of student leadership that Dr. Shirley Meng has fostered from day one.
🕑: 09:25 AM - 10:15 AM
Keynote Address
Host: TBD
🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:35 AM
Break
🕑: 10:35 AM - 11:10 AM
"From Lab Bench to Launch Pad"
Info: A candid, moderated conversation with four LESC alumni who left academia to build companies. No pitch decks. Just real talk.
🕑: 11:10 AM - 11:35 AM
“Guardian of the Literature”
Host: Dr. Rose Zhu
Info: Dr. Rose Zhu, visiting scholar at LESC and now Executive Editor-in-Chief of Watt, shares her journey from the lab to the editorial office.
🕑: 11:35 AM - 12:00 PM
“Building a Lab from Scratch”
Host: Dr. Chengcheng Fang
Info: Dr. Chengcheng Fang, LESC alumna and now Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, will speak on the realities of starting a research group from zero, offering honest, practical, and inspiring advice for every grad student in the room.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:15 PM
Networking Lunch
🕑: 01:55 PM - 01:55 PM
Distinguished Keynote: “The Next Frontier”
Host: TBD
🕑: 01:55 PM - 02:35 PM
External Industry Panel - Metrology and Scaling
🕑: 02:35 PM - 02:50 PM
Break
🕑: 02:50 PM - 03:30 PM
Closing Fireside Chat: “The Next Chapter for Battery Field”
🕑: 03:45 PM - 05:30 PM
Sunset Happy Hour
🕑: 03:30 PM - 03:45 PM
Closing Ceremony & Group Photo
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
