For four inspiring days, the mathematical community focused on port-Hamiltonian systems came together for a vibrant exchange of ideas. From September 7–10, 2026, around 60 members of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1701 Port-Hamiltonian System — coordinated at the University of Wuppertal — gathered at the Kolping Forum in Soest, Germany, for their second annual retreat.
The retreat offered an ideal setting to dive deep into ongoing research, share cutting-edge results, and foster cross-project collaboration.
A Comprehensive Scientific Program
The packed four-day schedule balanced rigorous technical presentations with interactive sessions and community-building activities:
- Monday & Tuesday: The meeting kicked off with sessions on research data management by Matthias Bolten, followed by a sequence of project talks spanning the breadth of the CRC’s research areas. Tuesday featured an interactive poster session, giving early-career researchers a platform to showcase their work.
- Wednesday’s Excursion and Benchmarks: Mid-week highlights included dedicated benchmark interaction sessions and a group excursion that offered a welcome break for informal networking and team bonding.
- Thursday’s Forward-Looking Discussions: The final day tackled cross-sectional topics, including discussions on how to find appropriate cost functionals for optimal control with port-Hamiltonian systems (PHS) and explorations of new example classes.
Ethics, Governance, and Community Spirit
Beyond core mathematics, the retreat emphasized the broader responsibilities of scientific practice. A major highlight was the invited talk by Christina Claß (Jena) on “Ethics in Science”, which invited participants to reflect deeply on professional responsibility, academic integrity, and good scientific practice.
The schedule also incorporated essential organizational milestones, including an Executive Board meeting, an open report and discussion on the IRTG evaluation, and the General Assembly.
Looking Ahead
The retreat concluded on Thursday afternoon with closing remarks that celebrated a highly productive and energizing week. A sincere thank you goes out to everyone who contributed through insightful presentations, thoughtful questions, organizational dedication, and an exceptional team spirit. Events like these continue to solidify the strong network driving the future of port-Hamiltonian systems research within CRC 1701!