2nd Simons Strong Gravity December Meeting 2026

15 Dec 2026, 08:30 → 17 Dec 2026, 17:30 America/Los_Angeles

Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP)

Nicolas Yunes, Deanna Frye (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Stella Kum (UIUC)

The Second December Meeting of the Simons Collaboration on Black Holes and Strong Gravity (Simons Strong Gravity) will take place in Santa Barbara, California on December 15-17, 2025.

Our venue is at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP). KITP is in Kohn Hall, located directly across from the East Gate entrance of the UCSB campus in Santa Barbara, California.

Please enter through the Main Entrance.

*More Information: https://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/about-us/location-and-local-resources/workplace

*For Wi-Fi access, Eduroam and Guest WiFi are available.

 

Please check the Timetable for the meeting agenda and schedule of talks.

Tuesday 15 December

08:30 Registration (Day 1)

1 Session 1

Speakers: Prof. Nicolas Yunes (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Dr Alex Lupsasca (Open AI & Vanderbilt University), Dr Roman Berens (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

10:30 Morning Break

2 Session 2 - Breakout

12:30 Lunch

3 Session 3 - Unstructured Talk to a New Friend

15:30 PM Break

4 Session 4 - Summary and Discussions

Speaker: Nicolas Yunes

Wednesday 16 December

08:50 Day 2

5 Session 5

Speakers: Dr Gary Horowitz (University of California, Santa Barbara), Mihalis Dafermos (Princeton University)

10:30 Morning Break

6 Session 6 - Breakout

12:30 Lunch

7 Session 7 - Unstructured Talk to a New Friend

15:30 PM Break

8 Session 8 - Summary and Discussions

Speaker: Nicolas Yunes

Thursday 17 December

08:50 Day 3

9 Session 9

Speakers: Dr Matias Zaldarriaga (Institute for Advanced Study), Dr Daniel Holz (University of Chicago)

10:30 Coffee Break

10 Session 10 - Breakout

12:30 Lunch

11 Session 11 - Unstructured Talk to a New Friend

15:30 PM Break

12 Session 12 & Farewell - Summary and Discussions

Speaker: Nicolas Yunes