From 31 August to 4 September 2026, the second edition of the MAT-BIO Exchange Summer School took place at the University of Warsaw. 25 students from seven 4EU+ Alliance member universities, representing different academic backgrounds and levels of study were selected from a pool of more than 100 applications, with motivation letters forming the basis of the selection process.
Over the course of five days, participants explored the use of mathematical modelling to understand complex biological processes by learning from researchers from leading academic institutions across and beyond the 4EU+ Alliance. The programme featured a diverse range of lectures and hands-on workshops with each day dedicated to a different area of mathematical and biological modelling, from ecology and evolution to neuroscience, biophysics and medicine.
The summer school was opened with Mathematical Modeling of Chemical Signalling, a guest lecture by Dariusz Wrzosek (University of Warsaw), followed by an opportunity for participants to network. The second day turned to ecology and evolution, with Luis Almeida (Sorbonne University) introducing population dynamics in ecology and Matteo Brilli (University of Milan) delving into the mathematical foundations of evolutionary dynamics. On the third day, attention shifted to excitable media, with Pavel Haman (Charles University) focusing on neuronal activity and network dynamics, while Stan Mareé (Cardiff University) introduced phase-plane analysis and spatial dynamics. Thursday was dedicated to Hydra regeneration, combining Szymon Cygan’s (Heidelberg University) work on reaction–diffusion and biomechanical models with Stan Mareé’s exploration of Turing instability and pattern formation. The final day brought the programme closer to medical applications, as Urszula Foryś (University of Warsaw) examined mathematical modelling in tumour growth and pharmacokinetics, while Jindrich Brejcha (Charles University) closed the academic programme with a reflection on the role and purpose of mathematical modelling.
Together, the sessions gave participants the chance to engage directly with researchers working across mathematics, biology, ecology, evolution, neuroscience and medicine, while also seeing how mathematical models can be used to investigate biological phenomena and address real-world scientific questions.
The organisers would like to thank NAWA - Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange for funding the summer school, the 4EU+ Local Office at the University of Warsaw for its support with the organisational arrangements, and Villi from the University of Warsaw Museum for leading a guided tour of the University's historic campus.
The summer school was organised by the 4EU+ Flagship 3, in the framework of the 4EU+ ETERNITY project, funded by NAWA - Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.