We are pleased to announce the JBI Summer School 2026: Space and Time, a event dedicated to the exploration of fundamental questions about space-time structure. The school will take place at the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences of the University of Split, offering an inspiring setting for deep scientific engagement and informal exchange.

This event is primarily aimed at advanced Master's students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers with a strong interest in the conceptual and theoretical foundations of physics. Participants will benefit from a programme of high-level lectures, hands-on tutorials, and interactive discussions led by experts in the field.

The core faculty include Shadi Tahvildar-Zadeh (Mathematics, Rutgers), Tim Maudlin (Philosophy, NYU), Will Cavendish (Mathematics, formerly Institute for Advanced Study) and Kevin Coffey (Philosophy, NYU-Abu Dhabi) who will present a series of lectures covering the basic mathematics and physics of classical space-time theory and Relativity. More specialized lectures on experiments bearing on space-time structure will be presented by Kristian Piscicchia (Physics, Roma, Centro Fermi) and on the coupling of quantum theory to gravity by Nicolò Piccione (Physics, Trieste). There may also be more speculative presentations on discrete geometry.

Submission Guidelines

Applicants should provide information about their interests and relevant background. They may provide a letter of recommendation if they wish, but it is not required. Unfortunately, we will most likely not be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to attend. Please indicate on the application whether you are asking for accommodation or not.

List of Topics

• Classical Space-Times
• Special and General Relativity
• Speculations on quantum effects and discrete space-times

Committees

Program Committee

• Tim Maudlin
• Daniel Sudarsky
• Catalina Curceanu

Organizing committee

• Angelo Bassi
• Christain Wuthrich
• Roderich Tumulka

Invited Speakers

• Shadi Tahvildar-Zadeh
• Will Cavendish
• Kevin Coffey
• Kristian Piscicchia
• Nicolò Piccione

Venue

The conference will be held in the MEdils campus of the Univerity of Split in Split, Croatia. The MedILS facility can accommodate 43 people in dormitory-like facilities (2 or 3 in a room). Last year, we also had participants who provided their own accommodations. The JBI will provide accommodation, breakfast and lunches for accepted applicants who request accommodation, and lunches for all participants. Monday August 17 is the arrival day and Friday August 28 the departure day.

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to timmaudlin@JohnBellInstitute.org

Sponsors: John Bell Institute, Split University, New York University