Trends in Differential and Complex Geometry: a celebration of Nigel Hitchin’s 80th birthday

Date: 31 August - 4 September 2026

Location: University of Oxford

The interactions between geometry, topology, representation theory, and mathematical physics have transformed our understanding of geometric structures and their applications in both pure mathematics and theoretical physics. Geometry has long been at the heart of mathematical advances, with differential and complex geometry playing a fundamental role in many breakthroughs. Over the past half-century, ideas from these fields have influenced areas such as mathematical physics, topology, and number theory, while also evolving through interactions with fields like gauge theory and integrability.

This workshop will explore foundational developments and recent progress, focusing on how core geometric structures continue to shape modern mathematical research. Hitchin’s profound contributions — ranging from Higgs bundles and hyperkähler geometry to generalised complex geometry — have transformed the way we understand and apply geometric structures in modern mathematics. His influence can be seen across multiple areas, providing a central theme that will unify the discussions at this conference.

Speakers: Tom Bridgeland (Sheffield), Robert Bryant (Duke), Simon Donaldson (Imperial), Camilla Felisetti (Modena e Reggio Emilia), Ana Ferreira (Minho), Laura Fredrickson (Oregon), Oscar Garcia-Prada (ICMAT), Michael Groechenig (Toronto), Marco Gualtieri (Toronto), Victoria Hoskins (Essen Duisburg), Jacques Hurtubise (McGill), Ailsa Keating (Cambridge), Marina Logares (Complutense Madrid), Marta Mazzacco (ICREA and UP Catalunya), Ngô Bao Châu (Chicago), Simon Salamon (KCL), José Seade (UNAM), Jörg Teschner (DESY), Richard Thomas (Imperial), Anna Wienhard (MPIM)

Registration: Registration is free but required. To register, please email Naomi Kraker, providing the name of your institution. Spaces are limited and all requests for registration will be forwarded to the organisers for their consideration.

Accommodation: A block of accommodation rooms has been reserved at Jesus College for workshop participants. These may be booked and paid for directly by following the link to Jesus College. Scroll to the bottom and click “Book Your B&B Stay Here”, enter the promotion code KX71472 and select your arrival and departure dates. Full details can be found in the Dowloads section below. We kindly ask that you book your accommodation only after your place at the workshop has been confirmed.

Celebratory dinner: Participants may purchase tickets for the celebratory dinner, to be held Wednesday, 2 September at New College, by following this link.

Financial Aid

Financial support for conference attendees: LMS and Heilbronn

The London Mathematical Society and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research have both generously given grants to the conference to support the attendance of PhD students and early career researchers who would not otherwise be able to come. Preference (for LMS and HIMR funding only) will be given to the following groups: PhD students at UK universities; participants who are women, or from other groups traditionally under
represented in mathematics; people with caring responsibilities. Following the LMS sustainable events policy, we also have a preference for attendees whose travel will have a low environmental cost (in particular, avoiding long-haul jet travel), and attendees coming from Scotland or mainland Europe are encouraged to consider travelling by train, even if this would be more expensive than flying.
 
For participants supported by these grants, the conference would expect to provide single accommodation for the 5 nights 30 August – Friday 4 September in the block of rooms the conference has reserved at Jesus College, plus a named contribution towards travel costs, which would be paid to the participant after the conference, upon presentation by e-mail or at the conference of travel receipts totalling at least the offered contribution.  

To apply for support to attend the conference, participants should e-mail Naomi Kraker at  admin@claymath.org by 1 June 2026, including the following information:

• A brief CV, including name, career stage (PhD student, postdoc, etc) and research interestes
• Dates you want to attend the conference
• Budget for travel requested, and means (plane, rail, etc)
• Whether you belong to an under-represented group in mathematics
• The name and email address o f an academic referee (supervisor preferred for PhD student), who you should ask to send a supporting letter to Naomi Kraker at  admin@claymath.org by 1 June 2026.
  

Financial support for conference attendees: IMSA

If you are a PhD or Post-Doc from the Americas and would like to apply for lodging or travel support, please use the form below:
https://forms.gle/LMsN4wiynZd5Az2A9

If you are a PhD or Post-Doc and would like the Banquet Subsidy, but do not need other types of financial support (irrespective of your origin) please use the form below:
https://forms.gle/LMsN4wiynZd5Az2A9
Banquet subsidy is automatic for anyone receiving any funding support. 

Participants will be informed whether they are being offered support in early June 2026.

This workshop is organised with support from: Heilbronn Institute of Mathematical Research, London Mathematical Society, National Science Foundation, University of Oxford, University of Chicago at Illinois, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council