CLEO 2026 Science Slam Crowns Winners

By Paulina Kuo

Tian Ooi of the University of Colorado/JILA was crowned the winner of the Second Annual CLEO Science Slam held on May 20, 2026 during the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO) in Charlotte, NC. Mohmad Junaid Ul Haq of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga came in second place. Both speakers were awarded cash prizes ($1000 and $500, respectively) based on votes from the audience on who most successfully showcased and presented their scientific project in a fun and engaging way.

Ooi gave a cheerful and analogy-filled talk titled “It’s about time… for nuclear clocks”. She discussed how lasers could be used along with nuclei inside atoms to keep track of time with astounding accuracy. “The Science Slam was such a great event and a unique chance to explain why I love my research in a casual and fun way,” said Ooi, “I’m so glad that people enjoyed it and laughed at my bad jokes.”

Ul Haq’s talk, “Two Photons. One Clock,” was about challenges in synchronizing clocks in a quantum network. He described the clocks as toddlers wandering around, occasionally bumping into each other but not able to stay together. He talked about the solution: using photons to synchronize and bring the clocks together. “The Science Slam was one of the most energizing events I have attended at a scientific conference,” commented Ul Haq. “It struck the perfect balance between rigorous science and genuine human connection, something rarely achieved in a technical setting.”

Both agreed that the Science slam was a memorable event for all involved. It was a change of pace from the usual serious tone of CLEO, which is a highly technical conference. The speakers all brought their unique personalities, and it was an opportunity for them to practice their science communications skills. This event highlighted the need for scientists to communicate effectively to a broad audience. Overall, the audience had a great time learning about a broad range of topics from quantum information processing to clock synchronization to infrared breath analysis.