The Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) Symposium will bring together leading researchers, scientists and cleaning and restoration professionals September 28–29 at The Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for two days focused on the latest developments in cleaning science, indoor environmental quality and remediation.
Held under the theme “Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice,” the 2026 CIRI Symposium is designed to connect emerging scientific research with the professionals applying that knowledge in the field. The program will explore current industry debates, new research findings and real-world case studies aimed at improving cleaning and remediation techniques and outcomes.
The symposium opens September 28 with a focus on indoor air quality and environmental testing. Speakers include Dr. Gene Cole of LRC Indoor Testing & Research; Dr. Michael Link of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, who will discuss remediation of wildland-urban fire smoke in a test house; and Hugo Destaillats of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who will examine the use of oxidants in remediation.
The opening day’s program will also feature Jeff Siegel of the University of Toronto presenting “Facts & Fiction – Air Cleaners.”
Day two shifts the focus toward microbiology and emerging cleaning science. Richard Shaughnessy of the University of Tulsa and Jordan Peccia of Yale University will discuss new mold sampling approaches made possible through DNA sequencing. Additional sessions will examine sanitizers and disinfectants, probiotic cleaning and the published evidence surrounding these emerging approaches.
Dr. Greg Whiteley will present “Probiotic Cleaning – What does the published evidence say?”, while Jennifer Blank of NASA will explore “How Clean Is Clean Enough? Lessons from NASA’s Planetary Protection Program.”
The program will also look beyond traditional restoration and cleaning applications. Lauren Fly, conservator and collections manager with The Fly Arts Initiative, will explore the evolution of contemporary cleaning approaches in painting conservation in a presentation titled “Bread, Potatoes, and Spit.”
According to CIRI, its Journal of Science serves as the cleaning industry’s only peer-reviewed research publication, providing a platform for bringing cutting-edge research to both academics and practitioners. The symposium continues that mission by creating an environment where attendees can learn from researchers, discuss emerging findings and consider how scientific advances can translate into better practices in the field.
With presentations spanning wildfire smoke remediation, air cleaners, mold sampling, disinfection, probiotic cleaning, planetary protection and conservation science, the 2026 CIRI Symposium offers attendees a broad look at where cleaning and remediation science is headed — and how today’s research may influence tomorrow’s practices.
The CIRI Symposium will be held September 28–29, 2026, at The Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Registration is now open! Learn more about the event and register here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ciri-science-symposium–2026
