2026 G.R.I.N.D. Conference Theme #TheImpactExpo: " Graduate Research doesn't just analyze the world, it changes it"

Panel 4: #ImpactingOurEconomy Building economic empowerment and sustainable growth. This session will examine how economic systems influence opportunity, wealth-building, and financial stability within our communities. The main purpose of this panel is to discuss how what we do, or what is going on around us, impacts entrepreneurship, workforce development, policy, and closing economic gaps.

#TheImpact Expo is a modern and innovative space where graduate students will show how their research is making a real difference in the world. #TheImpactExpo will highlight how graduate research connects real-life issues, from education to healthcare to politics, technology, and economics. The goal of the #TheImpact Expo is to show that graduate students are engaging in meaningful research that matters- not just within the confines of classrooms or labs, but in ways that extend far beyond, shaping communities, industries, and the world at large.