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About the School
The WE-Heraeus Summer School Exact Methods: From Lattice Models to String Theory brings together early-career researchers working in statistical mechanics, quantum field theory, integrable systems, and string theory. The two-week programme aims to introduce participants to modern non-perturbative methods and highlight the connections between different areas of theoretical and mathematical physics.
The school will take place at the Institut d'Études Scientifiques de Cargèse (IESC) in Corsica, France, from 16 to 28 August 2027.
Located on the Mediterranean coast, the institute provides an ideal environment for an intensive scientific programme, combining lecture facilities, accommodation, and opportunities for informal discussions and collaboration.
Exact methods have become indispensable for understanding strongly interacting systems, where conventional perturbative approaches often fail. Recent developments in integrability, conformal field theory, the bootstrap, representation theory, and probability have revealed remarkable connections between seemingly distinct physical theories, ranging from quantum spin chains and statistical lattice models to holography and quantum gravity.
The school focuses particularly on the computation of correlation functions in discrete and continuous models, the scaling limits connecting lattice models to quantum field theories, and the mathematical structures underlying their exact solvability.
The scientific programme is organized around five lecture courses, each delivered by two leading researchers and accompanied by a hands-on tutorial. These courses are complemented by expert talks presenting recent developments and open research questions, with particular emphasis on the common mathematical tools of bootstrap, integrability, and representation theory.
Beyond the lectures, the programme includes poster sessions, plenary discussions, and dedicated collaboration time, providing ample opportunities for scientific exchange and the development of new research collaborations.
Target Audience and Participation
The school is primarily aimed at early Career Researchers such as PhD students and Post-Docs in theoretical and mathematical physics. Advanced Master's students with relevant experience and early-career postdoctoral researchers are also encouraged to apply.
The programme is designed to provide both a pedagogical introduction to the five research areas and an opportunity to engage directly with leading experts.
Participants will be encouraged to contribute actively through:
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Tutorials: Hands-on problem sessions accompanying each lecture course.
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Poster sessions: Opportunities to present their own research and receive feedback from peers and senior researchers.
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Gong show: A short introductory presentation in which each participant introduces themselves and their research.
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Plenary discussions: Joint discussions connecting the different lecture courses and their shared mathematical methods.
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Collaboration time: Dedicated sessions for scientific exchange and the development of new research ideas.
- Learning how to chair a session: Young participants will chair the session together with a Senior Buddy.
The school will also feature social activities and a public outreach lecture, taking advantage of the unique setting of the Institut d'Études Scientifiques de Cargèse on the Mediterranean coast.
Organizing Committee
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Sascha Gehrmann — SISSA, Italty
- Volker Schomerus — DESY and Universität Hamburg, Germany
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Didina Serban — Institut de Physique Théorique, CEA Saclay, France
Scientific Committee
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Jesper Jacobsen — LPENS, ENS Paris, France
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Jules Lamers — University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Elli Pomoni — DESY and Universität Hamburg, Germany
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the generous financial support of the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation, the principal sponsor of this summer school, without whose support this event would not have been possible.
We also sincerely thank the Fondation Mathématique Jacques Hadamard and for their valuable financial contributions.
Finally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Institut d'Études Scientifiques de Cargèse (IESC) and CNRS for its invaluable support in hosting the school and providing an excellent environment for scientific exchange and collaboration.
