Science Without Borders: 4th Joint Workshop on Condensed Matter Research in Beijing
From September 29 to October 2, 2025, researchers from MPI-FKF and Peking University came together to continue their successful collaboration in condensed matter science.
The 4th Joint Workshop of Condensed Matter Science once again brought together leading researchers and students from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (MPI-FKF) and Peking University at the end of September 2025. This workshop series, launched in 2015 but interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, aims to foster an open exchange of ideas on cutting-edge research in condensed matter physics and to strengthen long-term international collaborations.
This year’s workshop was co-organized by Yuan Li (formerly a postdoc at MPI-FKF, now professor at Peking University), Yingying Peng (Peking University), as well as MPI-FKF director Bernhard Keimer and research group leader Dirk Manske. A particularly strong delegation traveled from Stuttgart: 19 students participated, not only from MPI-FKF but also from other Max Planck Institutes associated with the Graduate Center for Quantum Materials.
The scientific program featured a wide range of high-level presentations, with contributions from both principal investigators and students. A lively poster session provided ample opportunities for discussion, exchange of ideas, and the initiation of new collaborations. Thus, the event placed as much emphasis on interaction and mentoring as on the presentation of results.
The atmosphere throughout the workshop was marked by curiosity, open dialogue, and a shared enthusiasm for the challenges and opportunities of condensed matter research. The event once again highlighted the vitality of the long-standing collaboration between MPI-FKF and Peking University, and the crucial role of international partnerships in advancing science.
Looking ahead, plans are already in place for the next step: In 2026, the workshop will be hosted in Stuttgart, in the week leading up to the international M2S conference, which will attract researchers from all over the world. This provides a unique opportunity to further strengthen the partnership and increase the global visibility of MPI-FKF and its collaborators.
