From October 7 to 9, 2026, the second edition of the Mind the Gap workshop took place at the Georg-von-Vollmar-Akademie in Kochel am See. Primarily organized by Emanuela L. Giacomelli and Cristina Caraci within CRC TRR 352, the workshop brought together established scientists and early-career researchers to discuss recent advances in quantum mathematics and encourage exchange across different career stages.
The event combined scientific discussions with a focus on academic career development, mentorship, and the experiences and visibility of women in mathematical physics.
The scientific programme featured talks by Jan Philip Solovej, Mathieu Lewin, Shahnaz Farhat, Stefano Marcantoni, Lucrezia Cossetti, Qiyun Yang, Cécilia Lancien, Alessia Nota, François Visconti, and Christian Brennecke. The presentations provided opportunities to learn about current research and exchange ideas across different areas of quantum mathematics.
A particular highlight was the round-table discussion on the opening evening. To encourage active participation, especially among younger researchers, participants had been invited to share their thoughts and questions in advance through an anonymous survey. The session offered an opportunity to discuss experiences, challenges, and perspectives on academic careers in an open and informal setting.
The workshop also placed particular emphasis on informal exchange between junior and senior researchers. At one of the dinners, seating arrangements were randomly assigned using name tags, bringing younger participants and established professors together at the same tables and encouraging conversations beyond their usual research circles.
Throughout the workshop, coffee breaks, shared meals, and a sparkling wine reception on Thursday evening provided further opportunities for informal conversations and networking.
With its combination of scientific talks and discussions on academic life, Mind the Gap once again created a welcoming environment for scientific exchange, new connections, and dialogue between researchers at different career stages.