Ukrainian Summer school in Combinatorics 2025

Organisers: Johannes Carmesin, Oleg Pikhurko

September 15-19, 2025 at TU Freiberg (Germany)

Invited Speakers

Synopsis

Our summer school is aimed at PhD students, postdocs, and excellent undergraduate students working in Combinatorics or related areas from across Europe. We have the additional goal to build a network for Ukrainian Scientists with connections to Combinatorics. The summer school is accompanied by a satellite workshop aimed at postdocs and more senior researchers. It is possible to attend any combination of these events. These events takes place at TU Freiberg.
TU Freiberg, founded in 1765, is a research university located in the Iron Mountains in Saxony (Germany). There are quite a few hiking opportunities nearby, for example in Sächsische Schweiz. Its Historic town centre has a variety of restaurants with traditional German/Czech food, such as Stadtwirtschaft (Einstein themed, traditional Czech food), Himmel und Hölle (if you are up for a surprise), Ratskeller (traditional German food), Kartoffelhaus (traditional German food, a few vegetarian options as well).

Programme

Tentative schedule:

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9:00-10:30	Minicourse by Dan Kráľ	Minicourse by Danylo Radchenko	Minicourse by Marthe Bonamy	Minicourse by Volodymyr Nekrashevych	Satellite Workshop
Coffee break					Satellite Workshop
11:00-12:30	Minicourse by Dan Kráľ	Minicourse by Danylo Radchenko	Minicourse by Marthe Bonamy	Minicourse by Volodymyr Nekrashevych	Satellite Workshop
Lunch break			Excursion		Satellite Workshop
14:30 - 16:00	Problem solving	Problem solving	Excursion	Problem solving	Satellite Workshop
16:00 - 18:00		Networking event	Excursion	Strategy meeting	Satellite Workshop

Overall structure. In the mornings, we start with minicourses by the invited speakers. These typically include lectures and example classes but are freely designed by the speakers to best fit the needs of the participants. There are generous coffee and lunch breaks leaving plenty of opportunities for discussions outside the main programme. In the afternoon we offer problem solving sessions. Each day there would be various options to choose from, and the idea is that participants would work on problems in Combinatorics in small groups. These problem solving sessions are fairly flexible and need not be tied to a particular minicourse. In the strategy meeting on Thursdays evening, we will discuss possible joint future grant applications, and potential future meetings. If you are planning to come for the satellite workshop, please consider taking part in the strategy meeting as well if useful to you.

Ukrainian Prize in Combinatorics

At the satellite workshop, we will award the Ukrainian Prize in Combinatorics. It will be awarded to a researcher with connections to Ukraine who must not have obtained a PhD more than 7 years ago. The prize of 1000 Euros is funded by TU Freiberg and "EdUp – Support and Expansion of the Ukrainian Higher Education Sector in the Area of Resources and Technology". The selection committee consists of Marthe Bonamy, Johannes Carmesin, Dan Kráľ, Oleg Pikhurko, Volodymyr Nekrashevych and Danylo Radchenko. Please do consider to suggest candidates via email to Johannes Carmesin. To nominate a candidate, it suffices to write a short sentence, and add a link to their personal webpage or attach a CV. We may later reach out to aquire more information. You will receive a confirmation email that we received your nomination. Please submit your nomination by July 10th.

Satellite Workshop

Programme (TBC, all four invited speakers will deliver a plenary lecture plus talks from other participants)

Registration

Please register as early as possible (to help us with the planning). Also there may be additional benefits. In order to register, please write an email to Mrs Löschner. Please consider registering early since in these circumstances we may be able to help with reduced prizes for accommodation, and some of the conference funding may also be awarded before the event. We offer online, remote or in-person participation, to sign up for this, please write an email to Mrs Löschner. It is possible to register for the summer school, the satellite workshop, or both. If you register for the satellite workshop, please state whether you would like to give a talk. We will confirm your registration within two working days. We still have free slots for postdocs or more senior researchers to offer problem solving workshops at the summer school. If you would be interested, please let us know. The application deadline is July 10th.

Funding

There is no conference fee. We have a non-negligible amount of funding to support travel and accommodation. Our sponsors are TU Freiberg and "EdUp – Support and Expansion of the Ukrainian Higher Education Sector in the Area of Resources and Technology", and further funding may be available via DAAD. Priority will be given to Ukrainian participants.