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 February 27th-28th at Tufts University.

Call for Presenters

The call for presenters is now avaialbe here. We plan to solicit talks and posters based on previously published research and works-in-progress. As such, we are offering a flexible model for submissions. Please see the CFP for details. Submissions are due by Janurary 9th, 2026 at 11:59pm AoE.

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.

February 27th, 2026

  • 12:00-12:30pm: Lunch (provided)

  • 12:30-12:45pm: Welcome and Intros

  • 12:45-1:30pm: Research Talks

  • 1:30-2:00pm: Break (Posters in lobby)

  • 2:00-2:45pm: WiP/Short Talks

  • 2:15pm-3:00pm: Break (Posters in lobby)

  • 3:00-3:45pm: Research Talks

  • 3:45-4:00pm: Break (Posters in lobby)

  • 4:00-4:45pm: Research Talks

  • 4:45-5:00pm: Closing Remarks

    • 5:00-6:00pm Reception

February 28th, 2026

  • 10:00a-12:30pm: Research Preparation Workshop (details below)

  • 12:30pm-1:30pm: Lunch (provided)

  • 1:30a-4:00pm: Continue Research Preparation Workshop

  • 4:00-4:15pm: Closing Remarks

Research Preparation Workshop

This year we are extending ABUSRD to a two-day event and experimenting with an idea that was proposed during last year's community town hall, i.e., a research preparation workshop. The idea is that you can bring your study ideas to the second day of the event and receive feedback from other members on the community to help you identify challenges you might not have expected or alternative approaches which could strengthen your work. We have developed a strong community of usable security researchers in the Boston area and this seems like a great way to serve each other and get to know each others' work more deeply. We will share more details regarding how this will be organized as we get closer to ABSURD.

Location

All the main events will take place at Tufts University in room 180 of the Joyce Cummings Center (JCC). We are still finalizing details for the reception, which may take place in another nearby location.

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.