Sun Hosts Worldwide Education and Research Conference in San Francisco

More than 600 leaders in education are meeting this week at the fabled Westin Saint Francis Hotel in San Francisco as Sun Microsystems hosts its Annual Worldwide Education and Research Conference. Technology visionaries from more than 45 countries -- about 50 percent from within the US and 50 percent international -- will share their best thinking on the intersection of technology and education.

A key theme of the conference is supporting innovation and research, and leaders are discussing how they are moving education forward by building out networks and leveraging advanced technology.

“We as a research university have to teach young people how to be creative, because only if they are creative will they be the next-generation leaders. And the only way to do that is to engage them in research, because that is the creative effort. And technology is the platform by which you create the innovators,” University of California System President Robert Dynes (pictured) told Campus Technology after he addressed the conference on Wednesday.

Among many others speaking at the conference this week are San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; Her Majesty, Queen Noor of Jordan; Milton Chen, executive director, George Lucas Education Foundation; Peter Cochrane, co-founder, Conceptlabs; Larry Smarr, director of IT, University of California, San Diego; Lyle Oberg, minister of infrastructure and transportation, Province of Alberta, Canada; and Marilyn McMillan, associate provost and CTO, New York University .

Attendees will hear from the following Sun executives: Scott McNealy, chairman and CEO; Greg Papadopoulos, EVP & CTO; John Loiacono, EVP, software; Andy Bechtolsheim, chief architect and Sr. VP, Network Systems Group; David Yen, EVP, Scalable Systems Group; Glenn Edens, Sr. VP and director, Sun Labs; and Kim Jones, VP of global education and research.

Featured

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • cloud, database stack, computer screen, binary code, and flowcharts interconnected by lines and arrows

    Salesforce to Acquire Data Management Firm Informatica

    Salesforce has announced plans to acquire data management company Informatica for $8 billion. The deal is aimed at strengthening Salesforce's AI foundation and expanding its enterprise data capabilities.

  • stylized AI code and a neural network symbol, paired with glitching code and a red warning triangle

    New Anthropic AI Models Demonstrate Coding Prowess, Behavior Risks

    Anthropic has released Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4, its most advanced artificial intelligence models to date, boasting a significant leap in autonomous coding capabilities while simultaneously revealing troubling tendencies toward self-preservation that include attempted blackmail.

  • NVIDIA DGX line

    NVIDIA Intros Personal AI Supercomputers

    NVIDIA has introduced a new lineup of AI-powered computing solutions designed to accelerate enterprise workloads.