Application deadline for all SIG Competitions: 30 March 2026
Applications will open soon.
Health Care Operations Research (HCOR) SIG
2026 Student Paper Competition
Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS)
The submission deadline is March 30, 2026. The submission procedure will be announced later.
Students whose academic research is related to health care are eligible to enter the CORS Healthcare SIG Student Paper Competition. The applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student in a Canadian institution, in an undergraduate, masters, or PhD program during the 2025-2026 school year. Canadians who are studying outside of Canada are also eligible to enter.
Paper Evaluation and Selection Process
The CORS HCOR SIG executive committee will select four finalists based on the following criteria:
- The paper's contribution to the field of healthcare operations and at least one of operational research/management, economics, business analytics, or artificial intelligence.
- The originality of the methodology.
- The potential real-world impact on health systems or policy.
- The quality of the writing in terms of clarity, coherence, organization, and conciseness.
Entry Requirements
- Author information: Name, address, academic affiliation, and email address.
- Abstract: 200 words or less, clearly highlighting the motivation, contribution, and potential impact of the paper.
- Paper submission: A PDF of the paper that does not contain any identifying information and is no longer than 35 pages (minimum 1-inch margins, maximum 34 lines/page, and minimum font size of Times 11) including all figures, tables, appendices, and references.
- Supervisor confirmation: An email from the supervisor attesting that the applicant is the first author of the submitted paper. Supervisors must also agree to be part of the competition’s arbitration committee, which requires evaluating three competition documents. Failure to complete these reviews on time will result in automatic disqualification of their student's paper.
- Multiple submissions: The same paper can be submitted to multiple CORS paper competitions in the same year. However, it cannot be selected as a finalist in multiple CORS paper competitions (SIGs, Undergraduate Category, or Open Category) in the same academic year. If a paper is selected as a finalist by multiple committees, the student must decide in which competition the paper remains as a finalist.
- Resubmission policy: Once a paper has been awarded as Winner or Runner-Up in any CORS paper competition (SIGs, Undergraduate Category, or Open Category), it cannot be submitted again to any CORS paper competition.
In-Person Presentation
To be eligible for either a first prize or an honorable mention, papers selected as finalists must be presented by the student author. Presentations will take place during this year's CORS Conference, scheduled for June 8 to 10 in Kingston, Ontario.
Each presentation will have a maximum duration of 20 minutes, excluding question-and-answer time. Evaluation criteria for the presentations include:
- Professionalism of the presenter.
- Clarity and coherence of the seminar.
- Depth of the ideas discussed.
- Overall effectiveness of the talk.
- Adherence to the allotted time.
Paper and presentation evaluations will jointly determine the winner and runner-up.
Prize Details
Winner: $200
Runner-up: $50
Prize money will be sent to the first author, and the allocation among co-authors is at their discretion.
Teaching and Learning SIG
Teaching Competition Announcement: CORS 2026
Submission Deadline: Sunday, 1 March 2026
The Teaching and Learning SIG is thrilled to launch the inaugural Teaching Competition at CORS 2026, taking place in Kingston, Ontario! This exciting new event celebrates excellence, creativity, and impact in teaching and learning across operations research, management science, operations management, and data science.
Why Participate?
This competition is your chance to shine by sharing research ideas, insights, and outcomes; case studies; innovative teaching tools; assessment approaches; or educational games in a way that is clear, engaging, and accessible to a non-technical audience. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or faculty member, we invite you to bring your ideas to life and inspire others through effective communication and creative storytelling.
Competition Format: Pecha Kucha Style
- 20 slides (including title, affiliation, and acknowledgements)
- 20 seconds per slide, advancing automatically
- Total presentation time: 6 minutes 40 seconds (400 seconds)
- See the video description at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLgYwqBOm0U
Submission Details
- Format: Prerecorded video (MP4) or PowerPoint with embedded timing
- Eligibility: Open to all CORS members
- Submission deadline: Sunday, March 1, 2026
- How to submit: Email your video (or link) to Dr. Mengyu Li (mengyu.li@ufl.edu), Chair, Teaching and Learning SIG
- Finalists notified by: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Judging Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
- Clarity and accessibility: Transforming complex research/teaching topics into memorable, digestible takeaways.
- Relevance to education in Operations Research, Management/Decision Science, and Operations Management.
- Creativity and audience engagement: Utilizing strategically selected images and visuals to enhance understanding and convey insights
- Adherence to the Pecha Kucha format: Designing 20 slides, each timed for 20 seconds, including the title slide
- Clear learning objectives: Highlighting who and how the intended audience will benefit from your topic
- Effective and compelling delivery style: Defining the problem and its significance, presenting the solution, and highlighting its impact.
Awards & Recognition
Finalists will present live at the CORS 2026 Annual Conference in Kingston, Ontario, competing for:
- First Prize: $200
- Honorable Mention: $50
The presentation format will mirror that of the recorded videos. Selected submissions may also be featured on the CORS Teaching and Learning SIG webpage, extending the reach and impact of your work. We can’t wait to see your ideas, creativity, and passion for teaching. Join us in celebrating innovative approaches to teaching and learning at CORS 2026!
For questions, please contact: Mengyu Li, Chair, Teaching and Learning SIG, mengyu.li@ufl.edu