Basics of Quantum Gravity

19 Jan 2026, 16:00 → 2 Oct 2026, 18:00 Europe/Zurich

The Basics of Quantum Gravity online school is a series of lectures on the key concepts and techniques involved in the research of Quantum Gravity. It is dedicated to young researchers who are tackling this great challenge in theoretical physics. The goal is to bridge several paths and approaches to quantum gravity and provide young researchers with the tools to work on all of these frameworks and utilize various formalisms.

The second edition of this series will run throughout Europe's winter and summer of 2026. The repository, containing the videos of the first edition, is available here. This will be periodically updated with the videos of the current edition.

This is an initiative by the International Society for Quantum Gravity. It will be followed by a series of workshops on more advanced topics.

Details: The lectures will be conducted online, and the Zoom link will be emailed. The series will be recorded and made available online. To receive the links to the lectures by email, please register for the event. There is no registration fee applied. 

Level: The lectures are open to everybody interested in quantum gravity, but are primarily intended for young researchers in theoretical physics (from Master level), already familiar with quantum mechanics, quantum field theory and general relativity.

Organizing Committee: Alicia Castro, Renata Ferrero, Iva Lovrekovic, V H Satheeshkumar

ISQG-BoQGposter.pdf

Tuesday 20 January

10:00 → 11:30 Carrollian physics and holography

Lecturer: Daniel Grumiller (TU Wien)

Lecture 1: Carrollian symmetries and Carroll conformal algebra
Lecture 2: Flat space asymptotic symmetries and BMS algebra
Lecture 3: Aspects of the AFS_3/CCFT_2 correspondence

Wednesday 21 January

14:00 → 15:30 Quantum gravity phenomenology

Lecturer: Giulia Gubitosi (University of Naples Federico II)

In these lectures I will give an overview of the quantum gravity phenomenology programme, aimed at identifying potentially observable features of quantum spacetime.
I will discuss phenomenological models of quantum spacetime and illustrate opportunities for experimental tests of such models arising in physical frameworks much below the Planck scale, ranging from cosmology and astrophysics to quantum systems.

Thursday 22 January

14:00 → 15:30 Quantum gravity phenomenology

Lecturer: Giulia Gubitosi (University of Naples Federico II)

In these lectures I will give an overview of the quantum gravity phenomenology programme, aimed at identifying potentially observable features of quantum spacetime.
I will discuss phenomenological models of quantum spacetime and illustrate opportunities for experimental tests of such models arising in physical frameworks much below the Planck scale, ranging from cosmology and astrophysics to quantum systems.

Friday 23 January

10:00 → 11:30 Carrollian physics and holography

Lecturer: Daniel Grumiller (TU Wien)

Lecture 1: Carrollian symmetries and Carroll conformal algebra
Lecture 2: Flat space asymptotic symmetries and BMS algebra
Lecture 3: Aspects of the AFS_3/CCFT_2 correspondence

Monday 26 January

16:00 → 17:30 Lectures on celestial holography

Lecturer: Laura Donnay (SISSA)

1. Introduction: why flat space holography?

2. Conformal structure of flat spacetimes

3. Celestial amplitudes

   • Conformal primary wavefunctions
   • Celestial correlators
   • Example: four-point scattering
   • celestial OPEs

4. Current algebras for celestial CFTs

   • Supertranslation current
   • A 2d stress tensor
   • w_{1+\infty} symmetries

5. Conclusion and outlook

Wednesday 28 January

10:00 → 11:30 Carrollian physics and holography

Lecturer: Daniel Grumiller (TU Wien)

Lecture 1: Carrollian symmetries and Carroll conformal algebra
Lecture 2: Flat space asymptotic symmetries and BMS algebra
Lecture 3: Aspects of the AFS_3/CCFT_2 correspondence

16:00 → 17:30 Lectures on celestial holography

Lecturer: Laura Donnay (SISSA)

1. Introduction: why flat space holography?

2. Conformal structure of flat spacetimes

3. Celestial amplitudes

   • Conformal primary wavefunctions
   • Celestial correlators
   • Example: four-point scattering
   • celestial OPEs

4. Current algebras for celestial CFTs

   • Supertranslation current
   • A 2d stress tensor
   • w_{1+\infty} symmetries

5. Conclusion and outlook

Thursday 29 January

14:00 → 15:30 Quantum gravity phenomenology

Lecturer: Giulia Gubitosi (University of Naples Federico II)

In these lectures I will give an overview of the quantum gravity phenomenology programme, aimed at identifying potentially observable features of quantum spacetime.
I will discuss phenomenological models of quantum spacetime and illustrate opportunities for experimental tests of such models arising in physical frameworks much below the Planck scale, ranging from cosmology and astrophysics to quantum systems.

16:00 → 17:30 Lectures on celestial holography

Lecturer: Laura Donnay (SISSA)

1. Introduction: why flat space holography?

2. Conformal structure of flat spacetimes

3. Celestial amplitudes

   • Conformal primary wavefunctions
   • Celestial correlators
   • Example: four-point scattering
   • celestial OPEs

4. Current algebras for celestial CFTs

   • Supertranslation current
   • A 2d stress tensor
   • w_{1+\infty} symmetries

5. Conclusion and outlook