Category: Conferences

In Norse mythology...the Bifröst is a blazing rainbow bridge that connects Midgård (Earth) and Asgård, the realm of the gods.

In a similar spirit, black holes represent bridges between classical gravity and the uncharted territory of quantum gravity.  General relativity well describes the spacetime surrounding black holes, yet understanding their interiors requires quantum gravity.
"Bifrost: Black Hole Insights – navigating the FROntiers of SpaceTime" is a dedicated workshop aimed at gathering leading experts from observational astronomy to theoretical physics. Together, participants will explore novel ideas that will help bridge classical and quantum gravity.

The workshop is jointly organized by organized by the Quantum Field Theory Center (QTC) at the Danish Institute for Advanced Studies, the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Helsinki University and the Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini” of Federico II University.  

The event will take place on QTC premises at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study, in Odense, Denmark.

You can submit an abstract for a contributed talk in the registration form. The deadline for both registration and abstract submission is the 10th of September.

Invited speakers

• Ana Alonso-Serrano (Max Planck Institute, Potsdam)

• Vitor Cardoso (Niels Bohr Institute)*

• Raúl Carballo Rubio (IAA Granada)
• Steven Carlip (UC Davis)

• Salvatore Capozziello (SSM, Federico II U.)

• Mariafelicia De Laurentis (Federico II U.)

• Netta Engelhardt (MIT)*

• Antonia M. Frassino (SISSA)

• Alexandros A. Kehagias (National Technical University of Athens)

• Carlos Herdeiro (Aveiro U.)

• Stefan Hohenegger (Lyon U.)

• Stefano Liberati (SISSA)

• Orlando Lunogo (U. of Camerino)

• Alessia Platania (Niels Bohr Institute)

• Luciano Rezzolla (Goethe U. Frankfurt IAS)
• 
Jessica Turner (Durham U.)*

• Matthias Wihelm (Univesrity of Southern Denmark)                          
• Giulia Gubitosi (Federico II University)
• Giacomo Cacciapaglia (Sorbonne University) 
  *to be confirmed

Workshop Website

MAD Workshop is an excellent opportunity to connect with collegues involved in the development of advanced materials for gravitational wave detectors as well as with researchers from crystal growth community and industry who share a deep interest in the topic. Together we will discuss recent achievements and challenges in material research and outline prospects for future cooperation. We are confident that face-to-face workshops with a lot of space for personal interaction and individual meetings will contribute to achieving our common goals

Where:

The event takes place on the premises of Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ) and hosted by Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.

IKZ is located in the capital region Berlin-Branderburg in the middle of Germany’s largest Science and Technology Park Adlershof.

General Info:

This is a hybrid event. Participants can join all sessions either in person or online via Zoom. Personal attendance is highly appreciated.

Zoom link will be provided to all registered participants. Minutes for the meeting will be recored in the shared document.

All participants are welcome to contribute to the note taking in the meeting and the creation of a report after the meeting.

Beyond the sessions:

Crystal growth lab tour featuring a variety of materials and techniques

Social event

Presentations and Posters:

It is possible to submit an abstract for either a talk or a poster. Note that, depending on the topic and on the available time slot, we might ask you to convert your contribution to either a talk or a poster.

Sponsoring:

We have opportunities for sponsoring that will highlight your support of the community. If you are interested to present your company or institute, meet the attendees and/or support us, please contact mad2025@ikz-berlin.de. We have the right bundle for your successful participation!

Registration:

Registration will open soon. Note that the registration is considered completed only when the payment has been fulfilled. In addition, if no payment has been received after the deadline, you will be automatically deregistered from in-person participation.

No payment fee is required for remote participation.

Important Deadlines:

·         Registration Open: 14th July

·         Early Registration Close: 31st August

·         Final Registration Close: 7th September

·         Abstract Submission Open: 4th July

·         Abstract Submission Close: 10th August

·         Abstract Review Completed: 24th August

Local Organizing Committee:  

Iryna Buchovska, Robert Menzel

Scientific Committee:

Alex Amato, Iryna Buchovska, Elisabetta Cesarini, Margot Henning, Robert Menzel, Luca Naticchioni, Andrew Spencer, Flavio Travasso.

Workshop Website

On behalf of the Cluster of Excellence Quantum Universe at the University of Hamburg and DESY, we cordially invite your final year Master students, doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers in particle physics, astroparticle physics, astrophysics and mathematical physics/mathematics to our Attract.Workshop, November 23–25, 2025 in Hamburg.

Are you a Master’s student, a doctoral researcher or an early stage postdoctoral researcher driven by curiosity and a passion for uncovering the mysteries of the universe? Are topics like Higgs physics, gravitational waves, dark matter, fundamental theory, modern algebraic or geometric structures, or AI in fundamental physics exciting career options for you? Then the Quantum Universe Attract.Workshop could be a perfect place to explore your options and share your scientific work.

Quantum Universe is a dynamic, interdisciplinary research cluster of 300 scientists from the University of Hamburg and the research center DESY working at the cutting edge of science. We look at the crossroads of quantum physics and cosmology to tackle the most profound questions about mass, gravity, and the origin of the Universe—and we’re always looking for young talents to join us!

The Attract.Workshop gives you the chance to discover our labs. Meet our researchers. Explore your future. Take your chance to find out if you and Quantum Universe would be a perfect fit!
Join us for a 3-day workshop in Hamburg where you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Engage with leading scientists actively recruiting for upcoming positions
• Explore active research groups and facilities
• Get experience in presenting yourself and your scientific interests
• Learn about doctoral and postdoctoral opportunities in Hamburg
• Discover what life and research in Hamburg can offer you

And the cool part: you will be able to apply for a subsidy for your travel costs! A limited number of participants will be selected for partial funding.

Take the leap. Come to Hamburg. Be part of Quantum Universe

Workshop Website

Gravitational-wave astronomy is rapidly advancing, driven by expanding observational datasets from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA and pulsar timing arrays. Harnessing these increasingly complex data for astrophysical discovery requires accurate modeling of signals and noise, efficient detection methods, and scalable Bayesian inference techniques.

Artificial intelligence (AI)—including simulation-based inference and advanced architectures like transformers and diffusion models—is reshaping data analysis across science, including gravitational waves. AI-driven techniques already enhance detection sensitivity, accelerate parameter estimation, and mitigate non-Gaussian detector noise. Yet next-generation observatories such as LISA, the Einstein Telescope, and Cosmic Explorer, will present unprecedented challenges: millions of detectable sources, overlapping signals, and more complex astrophysical signals. Fast, reliable inference will be crucial for timely multi-messenger follow-up and continued scientific breakthroughs.

This workshop brings together experts from gravitational-wave astronomy, artificial intelligence, and astrophysical modeling to define key challenges and opportunities for AI in the coming decade. Through interdisciplinary discussions, participants will define pathways to enhance detection and parameter estimation, waveform modeling, and population analysis. The goal is to develop a strategic roadmap for integrating AI methods into gravitational-wave science and maximize the return from future observational campaigns.

The workshop is organized by Max Dax, Davide Gerosa, Stephen Green, and Natalia Korsakova at the Sexten Center for Astrophysics, which is located in the beautiful Dolomites, in the Italian Alps. Sexten overlooks the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo) which are among the most iconic peaks in alpinism history. Scientific sessions are hosted at Haus Sexten, right next to the ski slopes.

Workshop Website

As we progress into the era of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy, robust theoretical frameworks are essential for interpreting data and uncovering new physics. This workshop is dedicated to the deployment of tools from theoretical physics for GW phenomenology.

Key topics include:

Modern theoretical approaches for modeling GWs from compact binaries, such as effective field theories and techniques inspired by quantum field theory.
Tidal response and quasi-normal modes of compact objects, which provide insights into their internal structure and offer potential signatures of new physics.
Gravitational wave memory effects, linked to asymptotic symmetries and soft graviton theorems, provide further tests of GR and insights into cosmology.

Bringing together experts from across gravitational theory and related fields, the workshop aims to deepen our theoretical understanding required to fully exploit the potential of incoming GW observations.

Preliminary list of speakers (* = to be confirmed):

• Paolo Creminelli
• Stefano Foffa
• Carlo Heissenberg
• Lam Hui*
• Justin Khoury
• Alessandro Podo
• Antonio Riotto
• Luca Santoni
• Laura Sberna
• Enrico Trincherini
• Flippo Vernizzi*

Organisers:

• Davide Racco
• Borna Salehian
• Giovanni Tambalo
• Leonardo Senatore

Workshop Website