2024 Winter School
Dates: Monday, December 9-20, 2024
Who: The School is mainly targeted at graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, as well as advanced undergraduates. Early-career professionals from industry may also have interest in the topics covered in the School.
Location: WPI-SKCM² at Hiroshima University & WPI-I²CNER at Kyushu University
Registration: Coming soon
Join the WPI-SKCM² Winter School, covering topics related to knot topology, chirality, and sustainability from December 9-20, 2024. Week 1 will be at Hiroshima U and Week 2 at Kyushu U in collaboration with WPI-I²CNER.
Week 1: Monday, December 9-13, 2024 – Knotted Chiral Meta Matter with a focus on Math & Science Communication
Confirmed invited presenters include Prof. Lou Kauffman (University of Illinois at Chicago), Sabetta Matsumoto (Georgia Institute of Technology), and Amos Martinez (Nature Materials). After a week of tutorials and workshops, on Sunday, December 15, participants will travel to Kyushu University.
Week 2: Monday, December 16-20, 2024 – Sustainability and SKCM²-I²CNER Joint Symposium
This week will focus on sustainability, with a joint symposium highlighting areas of synergy between our fellow WPI Center, I²CNER. I²CNER is dedicated to the science underlying energy technologies that promise significant reductions in carbon emissions over the next few decades.
WPI-SKCM² Schools aim to provide interdisciplinary expert training in knot topology and chirality, which is not easily accessible within the traditional system of graduate education and postdoctoral apprenticeship. Emerging scientists will have the opportunity to engage with and learn from leading experts in the realm of knotted chiral meta matter. Topics covered will include metamaterials, knot theory, topological solitons, chirality, soft matter, magnets, colloids, polymers, quantum materials, biomaterials, proteins, active matter, origins of life, and energy efficiency.
WPI-SKCM² Schools also aim to foster the growth of early-career researchers. The Schools provide a forum for them to showcase their research through both oral and poster presentations, strengthen networks through community-building activities, enhance professional development through special symposia and forums, and learn about the world and culture of Japan.
Confirmed Invited Presenters
Lou Kauffman (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Sabetta Matsumoto (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Amos Martinez (Nature Materials)
Neslihan Gugumcu (Izmir Institute of Technology)
Scientific Organizing Committee
Ivan Smalyukh, Akio Kimura, Lou Kauffman, Shinichi Tate, Andrew Chapman