The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS; IL, USA) 2026 International Conference and Exhibition returns to Boston from 7-11 February, welcoming an expected 7500+ attendees and more than 400 exhibitors from across the life science ecosystem. This year’s program spans a broad range of themes, from AI-enabled automation and intelligent data integration to advanced in vitro models, emerging omics technologies, and sustainable lab operations. With interactive short courses, deep scientific sessions, exhibitor tutorials and networking forums, the challenge for many attendees will not be what to see but how to see it all. To help get you started, the official media coordinator for SLAS2026 Zyme Communications (Cambridge, UK), has picked out a selection of sessions and features that highlight some of the key scientific and technological conversations shaping the conference. Pre-Conference Before the main conference begins, SLAS offers a strong program of in-person, pre-conference short courses and technology provider showcases, designed to provide hands-on learning and deeper engagement with upcoming topics. These sessions require separate registration. From Modular Design to AI Agents: Rethinking Software for Lab Automation When: Saturday, February 7, 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST Where: Room 102B For teams thinking about how to implement AI agents in the laboratory, sign onto the interactive short course led by Integrant (CA, USA). Drawing on real-world life sciences R&D examples, the course presents a practical framework for moving from modular, rule-based systems to intelligent, agentic, enterprise-ready architectures. Participants will explore how to identify high-value use cases, prototype proof-of-concept agents, and…
