Hypatia 2026: Modelling Life, Sharing Ideas

From June 8 to 11, 2026, the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) hosted a new edition of the Hypatia Graduate Summer School, a space for advanced training and scientific exchange for young researchers in mathematics and its applications.

This year’s school revolved around two main courses focused on the role of mathematical modelling in complex biological systems. On the one hand, Partial Differential Equations for Biology and Beyond, taught by Gissell Estrada (UPC–CRM) and Tomás Alarcón (ICREA–CRM), introduced key partial differential equation frameworks used to describe biological phenomena across different scales, from cellular dynamics to collective processes. The course emphasised core ideas, illustrative examples, and the connections between modelling, analysis, and emergent behaviour, highlighting the versatility of PDEs in modern mathematical biology.

On the other hand, Giulia Laura Celora (University of Oxford) delivered the course Exploring Self-Organisation in Biology through Mathematical Modelling, focusing on the mechanisms of self-organisation in biological systems—where order must be maintained for life to function—and on how mathematical modelling helps us understand the emergence of complex structures. The course explored a range of modelling approaches used to study the macroscopic dynamics of biological self-organisation, with applications spanning embryonic development, tissue morphodynamics, and cancer progression.

Beyond the theoretical sessions, the school maintained a participatory and dynamic atmosphere through activities designed to foster dialogue and connections among participants. Among them, a film discussion centred on Gifted provided a starting point for collective reflection on the notion of talent—what it is, how it can be recognised, and how it is nurtured—as well as on different educational models. The conversation also highlighted the importance of emotional and social education in the development of young individuals, opening a space to reflect on how academic environments can better support diverse forms of ability.

True to its spirit, the Hypatia Graduate Summer School once again created a close, critical, and collaborative environment, placing the spotlight on the role of mathematics in understanding life while reinforcing its commitment to the visibility and promotion of young women researchers in science.