ABSURD is a regional event for the Boston area to meet and discuss recent work in Usable Security and Privacy, broadly construed. We hope that this can be a venue for everyone to meet, hear more about each others’ work, and potentially develop fruitful collaborations. The ABSURD schedule consists of both research talks and networking events.

The ABSURD 2026 will be held in March. The date and specific host institution in Boston will be announced soon.

Call for Presenters

The call for presenters will the available in November, 2025. We plan to solicit talks and posters based on previously published research and works-in-progress.

Call for PC Volunteers

Because we will be providing some review of talk abstracts this year, we are seeking reviewers. If you're a postdoc, PhD student, or Masters or undergraduate student with significant research experience, please fill out this form to volunteer to join the ABSURD program committee.

Registration

Registration will be available here once we get closer to the conference.

Schedule

More details will be available as the event approaches.

Below is a draft schedule of events and are subject to change. More details will be available as the event approaches.

  • 9:00-9:15am: Arrival

  • 9:15-9:30am: Welcome and Intros

  • 9:30-10:15am: Research Talks

  • 10:15-10:45am: Break

  • 10:45-11:30am: WiP/Short Talks

  • 11:30am-1:30pm: Lunch and Poster Session

  • 1:30-2:15pm: Research Talks

  • 2:15-2:30pm: Break/Posters

  • 2:30-3:45pm: Research Talks

  • 3:45-4:00pm: Break/Posters

    • 4:00-4:45pm BOF Sessions - To suggest topics, please use this form

  • 4:45pm-5:00pm: Closing Remarks

Location

All events will take place in Boston, though the final location is TBD.

Directions and other information

Transportation information is available here, including information for driving/parking and transit. If you are coming from downtown Boston, the easiest way to get to Tufts is via the Green Line E branch. The Tufts/Medford stop is next to the JCC

Visitor parking information for Tufts is available here. The daily rate is $20.

Virtual attendees

Zoom information will be sent to attendees who register for virtual participation a week ahead of the event

Prior Events

Spring 2025

Spring 2024

Beyond ABSURD

Looking for more ways to engage with other usable security researchers in the Boston area beyond the research day? Check out our other Beyond ABSURD activities we run throughout the year.

Organizing Committee

Daniel Voitpka, Tufts University, daniel.votipka@tufts.edu

Diana Freed, Brown University, Diana_Freed@Brown.edu

Tianshi Li, Northeastern University, tia.li@northeastern.edu

Sponsors

We wish to thank the Tufts Cybersecurity Center for the Public Good, Tufts University Department of Computer Science, the Brown University Computer Science Department, and the Brown University Data Science Institute for their support to make this event happen.