International combinatorial workshop: MCW 2025
The Department of Applied Mathematics at Matfyz recently hosted The Midsummer Combinatorial Workshop, a gathering of top experts on graph theory, combinatorics, and discrete geometry. Held from July 28 to August 1 at Malá Strana, the workshop brought together 92 researchers and students to discuss key developments in this field.
Midsummer Combinatorial Workshop 2025 (photo: Alena Chrastová)
With participants from 36 institutions—21 from Europe and 15 from overseas—the event underscored Prague's reputation as a hub for applied mathematics.
Organized by Jaroslav Nešetřil, Jan Hubička, Matěj Konečný and Petra Milštainová, the event's program featured 35 speakers who presented on recent advances in numerical linear algebra, large-scale optimization, and their diverse applications, topics foundational for modern science, providing the tools to solve complex problems in everything from physics and engineering to data science and finance. The talks provided a platform for sharing cutting-edge research and fostering new collaborations.
A Tradition of Spontaneity
This year's workshop marked the 30th anniversary of the event. In a nod to its history, the commemorative T-shirt featured a photograph from the very first meeting in 1993, which was spontaneously organized the summer after the splitting of Czechoslovakia. Without a formal program, the inaugural meeting set a tradition of informal morning problem sessions and afternoon discussions that continues to this day.
The invitation-only workshop always takes place during the week containing August 1st, and its program is determined on a day-to-day basis. The afternoons are reserved for open discussions and other activities. Those interested in joining are encouraged to contact the organizers.
To learn more about the MCW's present and past, visit the
workshop webpage:
https://www.mff.cuni.cz/en/kam/events/mcw/mcw-2025.
Alena Chrastová
