2026

We congratulate Prof. Dr. Gerd Faltings on receiving the Abel Prize 2026! His ideas and results have reshaped the field of arithmetic geometry. Faltings studied in Münster, where he completed his doctorate (1978) and his habilitation (1981). In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. Several members of Mathematics Münster describe the impact of Faltings' work on their research and share personal memories. 

The goal of this workshop is to bring together young European-based researchers under the broad umbrella of geometric structures. We aim to provide a place for interaction and sharing of research ideas across a range of disciplines: these include Spin geometry, special holonomy, almost Hermitian geometry, hypercomplex geometry, or Kähler and complex algebraic geometry and related topics.

We congratulate our colleague Wolfgang Meyer on his 90th birthday. As a surprise and gift, his former doctoral student Burkhard Wilking has organised a celebratory colloquium for Friday, 20 March 2026.

We congratulate Prof. Dr. Gerd Faltings on receiving the Abel Prize 2026! The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters honors him for his achievements in arithmetic geometry. His ideas and results have reshaped the field, settling major long-standing conjectures, while also establishing new frameworks that have guided decades of subsequent work. Faltings studied in Münster, where he completed his doctorate (1978) and his habilitation (1981). In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science.

Despite rain and cold, many families set out on 14 March 2026, to visit our activity stand “Mathe mittendrin!” at Stubengasse, Münster, on the International Day of Mathematics. Older children showed great perseverance as they worked on the puzzle challenges from the "Mathe-Trail Münster". Young and old guests alike had lots of fun trying out the different stations of the "Q.UNI Kinder- und Jugend-Uni", for example the "Mirror Drawer" and the tricky "Conway Cube".

With the publication "Twelve Months, Twelve People – Portraits 2025", the University of Münster presents a slightly different kind of annual review. The recently published brochure features individuals who achieved outstanding accomplishments over the past year. In May, the focus is on our "Bridging the Gaps" professor Hendrik Weber.

For the third time, Thomas Leblé (Université de Paris Cité) returns as a Münster Research Fellow to Mathematics Münster. He works in probability theory and mathematical physics. In March, he will continue his collaboration with Martin Huesmann.

The Mathematics Münster Master Day is aimed at undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a master's degree at the University of Münster. On 22 April, we will host a live event in Münster and an online meeting for those who cannot attend in person. The online programme includes an invited lecture by a mathematician from our faculty, an information session about the master's programme and an informal gathering with members of our faculty. We look forward to meeting you.

Every year on 14 March ("Pi Day"), the International Day of Mathematics is celebrated worldwide - and we are joining in! On 14 March 2026, we will present an activity booth "Mathe mittendrin" in Münster’s city centre. The "Q.UNI Kinder- und Jugend-Uni" will offer maths games and craft activities. School students from grade 5 onwards can discover new puzzles from our "Münster Math Trail" together with family and friends. High school students can join a day of math challenges at the "Tag der Mathematik - Wettbewerb".

Our Cluster of Excellence "Mathematics Münster: Dynamics – Geometry – Structure" entered its second funding period this month. At a general assembly, the participating researchers elected the Cluster spokespersons, the executive board and further committees, thereby setting the organisational course for continuing successful scientific collaboration.

Due to a large number of common mathematical interests in very diverse fields of mathematics, we decided to introduce a themed meeting bringing together researchers from the two institutions in related areas. The main objective is to get an idea about research interests and projects in each others' department (specifically at the PhD and postdoc level) and to provide a forum for future collaborations.

There will be two talks at the CRC Colloquium on 23 January 2026 at 4:15 pm. Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Winter will speak about "Underlying dynamics of classifiable C*-algebras: Paper-folding models of the CAR algebra". Prof. Dr. Shirly Geffen will give a talk entitled "Stable rank one in nonnuclear C*-algebras". These two lectures will take place in lecture hall M4. Get-together afterwards in the Cluster Common Room.

Prof. Dr. Anita Winter (Universität Duisburg-Essen) will speak about "Scaling limit of the Aldous-Broder chain on regular graphs: the transient regime" at the RTG Colloquium on 21 January 2026 at 5:00 pm. The talk will take place in room 216/217. Before the talk there will be an introductory talk for doctoral researchers and postdocs by Anita Winter at 4:00 pm and coffee and tea in the Cluster Lounge at 4:30 pm.

Schülerinnen ab der 7. Klasse sind am Donnerstag, 23. April 2026, am Exzellenzcluster Mathematik Münster und am Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik eingeladen, Einblicke in das Studium und die Berufswelt von Mathematikerinnen zu bekommen. Jetzt anmelden!

A major recognition for Prof. Dr. Franziska Jahnke and Dr. Konstantinos Kartas: On 31 January 2026, research results of the two members of Mathematics Münster will be presented at the "Séminaire N. Bourbaki" in Paris. The internationally renowned seminar series is considered a barometer of current developments in mathematical research.