Dear Members of the Strings Planning Committee,
In response to your request for proposals, the string theory groups from Shanghai propose to host the Strings 2026 conference at the Shanghai Institute for Mathematical and Interdisciplinary Sciences (SIMIS) and Fudan University in Shanghai. Building on the success of hosting Strings 2006 and 2016 in China, we aim to continue honoring this tradition in Shanghai.
Proposed dates
Our proposed dates are from July 6th to July 11th of 2026.
Local Organizers and Administrative Support
Our local organizers are Hamed Adami, Mykola Dedushenko, Bong Lian, Andrey Losev, Vyacheslav Lysov, Wenjie Ma, Satoshi Nawata, Veronica Pasquarella, Mauricio Romo, Yang Zhou, and Hao Zou. Faculty from SIMIS and universities in Shanghai and the internal staff of SIMIS will provide administrative support.
Venue
We plan to use the Xianghui Hall at Fudan University, a 750-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art capabilities and audio/visual support.
Funding
Our funding comes from SIMIS, Fudan University, and the City of Shanghai.
Invitation Policy
We plan to implement the following invitation process for speakers
1. We will form the International Advisory Committee of around 100 string theory experts and ask them to nominate the speakers.
2. The local organizing committee will nominate up to 20% of nominees to ensure diversity of nominations.
3. We will form a smaller (around 10 members) International Scientific Program Committee to select speakers from the nominees. We will invite the committee members to represent each of the topics below
(a) Amplitudes and string perturbation theory
(b) Quantum field theory
(c) Generalized symmetries and interface with condensed matter
(d) Holography and quantum information
(e) Quantum gravity and black hole physics
(f) AI in physics and mathematics
(g) Swampland and string phenomenology
4. Lectures are expected to be delivered in person only.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) plan
We are committed to ensuring a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all participants. To ensure compliance, a member of the organizing committee will be assigned the role of an EDI officer.
Support for Young Researchers, Postdocs, and Participants from Developing Countries
We plan to provide support for 50 young researchers according to the following support policy
1. We plan to hold a gong show (5-minute presentations) for 10 young researchers selected from among the applicants. We plan to cover the conference expenses for the gong show participants and outstanding runner-ups.
2. We plan to establish scholarships, travel grants, and accommodation assistance and cover visa fees for young researchers and participants from developing countries to ensure geographic diversity.
3. We plan to organize the poster session for young researchers since many universities only cover expenses for participants who present their works at conferences.
4. We plan to provide lunches and dinners for all conference participants.
Environmentally Friendly Practices
We will promote using digital materials over paper, encourage sustainable transportation, provide locally sourced food and drink, and enable virtual participation to reduce travel-related carbon emissions.
Code of Conduct
We are committed to maintaining an environment at Strings 2026 free from any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Participants will be expected to uphold a high standard of respect and professionalism. We reiterate our commitment to the Strings conference Code of Conduct and strive to provide an environment promoting respectful and inclusive interactions.
We hope our proposal aligns with your vision for Strings 2026 and look forward to your feedback.
Sincerely,
The Organizers of the proposed Strings 2026 conference.