Belgrade School of Complex Systems 2026

Most of the everyday phenomena we see around us can be categorized as “complex.” Such systems consist of many strongly interacting parts and yet, despite this, they exhibit a certain emergent qualitative unity which endows them with a distinct being, separate, although not independent, from that of their constituent elements.

These complex systems thus possess a kind of “simplicity” as well, which makes them intelligible and allows them to be studied in their own right. The sheer diversity of complex phenomena—from magnets to climate to the economy to the human brain—prevents them from being investigated under a single theoretical framework. Still, studies such as those of Lorenz and Mandelbrot in the 1970s began to reveal a surprisingly large number of common motifs across these systems, including transitions to chaos, fractal structures, pattern formation, and more.

The search for common features of complex systems still remains open. However, most efforts today are focused on understanding particular phenomena. The “Belgrade School of Complex Systems,” organized by the Faculty of Physics at the University of Belgrade (http://www.ff.bg.ac.rs/Engleski/index_eng.html), is an attempt to bring together experts from around the world working on various fields that fall under the broad category of complex systems in order to encourage the exchange of knowledge and promote collaboration between like-minded researchers that may be working in seemingly disparate fields.

About the School

The school will take place 21–27 June 2026 at the Petnica Science Center, an established and well-known institution for scientific education in the beautiful part of west Serbia, where the participants will spend one week on campus together, allowing them to get to know each other well, start collaborations, and make friendships. Besides the main workshop focused on complex systems in general, there will also be a parallel, specialized workshop, supported by the project EXTREMES of the National Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, focused on the science of climate and meteorology, which will last from Monday to Wednesday.

Participants will attend a series of mini-courses on various topics on complex systems and will be able to present their own work in poster and contributed talks sessions. In addition to this, they will have ample time for discussion and socializing. Registration covers full-board accommodation on campus which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as organised transport from Belgrade to Petnica.

For PhD students and early career scientists that have trouble covering the cost of registration, financial aid may be available through the SECS scholarship.

Financial Aid

Scholarships for Events on Complex Systems (SECS) aims to help young scientists attend conferences related to complex systems (https://yrcss.cssociety.org/grants/secs/). Eligible are Master’s students, PhD candidates, and early-stage researchers (up to 4 years after PhD) working on complex systems. If approved, the scholarship will cover the cost of registration and a part of the travel expenses (to be reimbursed after the conference).

The call opens in March. To apply you need a CV and a one page cover letter. If you need help with this, contact us at predrag.popovic@ff.bg.ac.rs and we will try to help.

Venue & Transport

The Petnica Science Center was founded in 1982 by a group of young enthusiasts and thus became the first truly independent education institution in former Yugoslavia. Today, it is very well known throughout Serbia and the wider region, serving mainly to educate and attract young high school students to science. Many of the country’s lead scientists have passed through Petnica at some point either as a student or as a lecturer. Its campus includes several lecture halls, laboratories, dormitories, library, and a restaurant.

The Center is located 7km from the city of Valjevo in west Serbia, and is surrounded by a number of natural and historical landmarks. It is bordered by the Valjevo mountains known for their dense forests, meadows, and numerous rivers and gorges. Only 200m from the Center is located the Petnica cave, and several kilometres southwest of it is the protected area of the Gradac river gorge, known for its crystal clear water and home to numerous caves, abundant plant and animal life, and the medieval monastery of Ćelije. A short walk away, there is also a recreational center with various sporting facilities and swimming pools fed by warm groundwater.

On-site accommodation with comfortable shared rooms, full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and high-speed Wi-Fi are included.

Contact

Have questions about the Belgrade School of Complex Systems? We’re here to help.

For any inquiries, please email the Committee Chairman: predrag.popovic@ff.bg.ac.rs

Source and more details: https://becomplex.net/