The Interdisciplinary Challenges conference series aims to connect young researchers from diverse backgrounds at the interface between the physics of complex systems and biology. Previous iterations have been held in Edinburgh (2022), Dresden (2024) and Heidelberg (2025). We will cover a broad variety of topics from soft matter to ecology and learning in biological systems.

As the conference is aimed at early-career researchers, we strongly support applications from PhD students, postdocs and early-career permanent researchers.

IntCha26 will be held between the 20th and 25th of April 2026 in the Institut d'Études Scientifiques de Cargèse (IESC), Corsica.

List of confirmed speakers

Abstract submission is now open!

Please click here for further instructions.

Contact: intcha26@proton.me

(N.B. Session titles are preliminary)

• Active matter 
• AI and machine learning 
• Animal behavior 
• Cells and tissues 
• Data-driven modelling 
• Ecology and evolution 
• Meet-the-editors round table
• Out-of-equilibrium systems 
• Transport across scales 

• Amélie Chardac (ESPCI Paris)
• Antonio Carlos Costa (Paris Brain Institute)
• Giulia Pisegna (Max Planck for Dynamics and Self-Organization)
• Nico Romeo (University of Chicago)
• Oliver Meacock (University of Sheffield)
• Salambô Dago (University of Vienna)
• Yann-Edwin Keta (Sorbonne University)