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We are delighted to announce the first edition of the Geometry Space Surrey workshop, which will take place June 8-10, 2026 at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK. Supported by the STRUCTURES Cluster of Excellence at Heidelberg University, the workshop is the first event of its kind, bringing together researchers working at the interface of symplectic geometry and astrodynamics.
The aim of the meeting is to bring together researchers from both communities to discuss recent developments at the intersection of these two fields, identify promising directions for future research, and foster new collaborations. By creating a dedicated forum for exchange, the workshop seeks to encourage sustained dialogue between mathematicians and researchers working in space dynamics.
Over three days, the programme will feature six plenary lectures, 15-20 contributed research talks, and a poster session for early-career researchers. In addition, a social dinner in Guildford is planned for the evening of the second day. Interested participants may also choose to stay on the morning of Thursday, June 11 for a guided tour of the SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Limited) facilities, to see first-hand how satellites are being built for specific missions.
“The goal is to see how symplectic geometry, a branch of abstract mathematics aimed at understanding physics in a geometric way, can influence space mission design and optimization,” said Dr Arthur Limoge, a STRUCTURES YRC alumnus at the Surrey Space Centre, who is organizing the workshop with Dr Nicola Baresi of Surrey Space Centre and University of Surrey mathematicians Prof David Lloyd and Prof Tom Bridges. “We want to enable space engineers to interact with mathematicians and space industry experts to see how we can gain understanding of complex space mission design problems such as trajectory design and surveillance in the Sun-Earth-Moon system," added Nicola Baresi.
Registration is now open on the workshop website. Early-bird rates are available until 14 April 2026, and registration closes on 14 May. During the registration process, participants will be able to submit abstracts for the research talks and poster session. Submissions are welcome on any topic relating to astrodynamics, symplectic/differential geometry, Hamiltonian dynamics, geometric mechanics, geometric integrators, geometric optimal control, and related areas.
The workshop is supported by the STRUCTURES Cluster of Excellence at Heidelberg University, which promotes interdisciplinary research into the mathematical and physical structures underlying complex systems. By encouraging dialogue between mathematics and space dynamics, the meeting reflects STRUCTURES’ broader interest in fostering connections between fields that rarely interact directly.
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