Comic-Con Events & Presentations
Link to UC San Diego-sponsored events and community members presenting at Comic-Con International 2026, held at the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding venues downtown.
Convention Panel Presentations & Experiences
A valid Comic-Con badge is required for access to most of these events. Some may be recorded and posted on YouTube or other platforms after Comic-Con weekend.
Thursday through Sunday, July 23–26
- Mission Control: STEAM Activity Room, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fans of all ages can design rockets, build rovers and search for alien life in this interactive STEAM space led in part by Eric Michelsen (School of Physical Sciences) and Benjamin Smarr (UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute). New missions are available each day; scientists and engineers guide participants through this immersive experience.
Thursday, July 23
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Wētā Workshop Building Worlds: Creatures and Ecosystems, 1–2 p.m.
Sir Richard Taylor (founder and creative director, Wētā Workshop) and IF/THEN scientists including Dr. Claire Meaders (teaching professor, UC San Diego), explore how Wētā Workshop's most unforgettable designs are inspired by the real world: animal adaptations, camouflage, habitat engineering, evolutionary survival, and the strange brilliance of nature itself.
Friday, July 24
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3D Viz and 3D Printing in Medicine, Mummies, and Animals, 10–11 a.m.
Explore how 3D visualization and printing are transforming medicine, research and forensics. Featuring V. Salil Upasani, M.D. -
Bad Medicine in TV and Film, 10–11 a.m.
UC San Diego and Rady Children’s physicians break down what Hollywood gets right and wrong about medicine—featuring Dr. Jackson Vane. -
Main Scenario or Side Quests? Balancing Careers & Hobbies, 10–11 a.m.
Gaming industry insiders including Karen Morrison (narrative design at Soda Den and UC San Diego alumna) have a conversation about time management, burnout, creativity, and finding fulfillment both inside and outside the industry. -
More Science in Your Fiction with The League of Extraordinary Scientists and Engineers, 1–2 p.m.
Scientists including Ben Frable and Lisa Zeigler Allen (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) discuss how science fiction inspires real-world innovation. -
King of the Hill, 4–4:45 p.m.
Alumnus Mike Judge (School of Physical Sciences) joins cast and creators to discuss the new era of the iconic series. -
Star Wars Tourism: Visiting the Galaxy Far, Far Away on Earth, 6–7 p.m.
Explore real-world Star Wars filming locations with panelists including Melissa Miller (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) and alumnus James Floyd. - The Science of Severance: Exploring Identity, Memory, Technology & Beyond, 8–9 p.m.
Dr. Takaki Komiyama (professor of neurobiology at UC San Diego) and other physicians / researchers explore the plausibility of memory partitioning, the psychological consequences of identity bifurcation, and emerging real-world technologies that echo these speculative ideas.
Saturday, July 25
- How Does a Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) Book Get Made?, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Publishers and authors including Kazim Ali (author, poet, and professor of literature, UC San Diego) discuss the process of building branching narratives and bringing them to the page. -
The Science of Spider-Man’s New Challenges, 2–3 p.m.
UC San Diego-affiliated researchers including Colin Depp (UC San Diego School of Medicine) join the Fleet Science Center to break down the science behind Spider-Man’s latest villains and challenges. -
Vibe Check: Terrifying, 3–4 p.m.
Authors discuss delving into the dark depths of culture and their own psyches to discover new terrors. Moderated by Dr. Betty Ramirez (associate director, UCSD Writing Center). -
The Science of Tom Cruise, 8:30–9:30 p.m.
Panelists include Paul Wynns (University of California, San Diego - Rady School of Management PhD alumnus and Design Lab researcher) alongside experts in physics, engineering and biology to examine the science behind blockbuster films. Moderated by Melissa T. Miller (UC San Diego),
Sunday, July 26
- The Science of Frankenstein, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Mark C. Glassy (UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center / School of Medicine) explores the science behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and how it has evolved over 200 years. -
Minds We Made: Ethics in the Age of AI , 3–4 p.m.
Experts including alumnus David Brin discuss the ethical challenges and future of artificial intelligence.
Transportation
MTS offers expanded service to Park & Market and the Convention Center with a special event Trolley line. The Blue Line is your direct line to and from the La Jolla campus.