This webpage provides information for the 20^th Heidelberg Summer School on the topic of

                                    AI for Astronomy                  

 

The 20^th Heidelberg Summer School takes place September 8-12, 2025,  in the "Mathematikon", more specifically in the Institute for Computer Science,  IWR,  address "Im Neuenheimer Feld 205" (or "INF 205"), seminar rooms A-C (ground floor).

 

Application deadline is June 30, 2025, 23:59 CET.   Please follow our detailed instructions below.

 

Organization:

   IMPRS for Astronomy and Cosmic Physics at the University of Heidelberg (IMPRS-HD):

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA); Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK); Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University, ZAH (Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, ARI; Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, ITA;  Landessternwarte Koenigstuhl, LSW); and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS).
 

Scientific organizing committee:   

   Tobias Buck (IWR/ITA)

 

Scope of the School:

Challenges in Modern Astronomy
Astronomy today faces unprecedented challenges as observational datasets grow exponentially in size and complexity. Extracting meaningful insights from massive surveys, simulating intricate cosmic processes, and addressing uncertainties in astrophysical models are some of the key difficulties. Understanding gravitational waves, modeling galaxy evolution, and analyzing exoplanet atmospheres require sophisticated computational techniques beyond traditional methods.

Advancements in AI and Machine Learning
Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and machine learning have opened new frontiers in tackling these astronomical challenges. AI-driven techniques enable efficient data processing, enhance simulations, and improve predictive modeling. Machine learning algorithms, particularly deep learning and probabilistic inference methods, allow astronomers to analyze high-dimensional datasets, generate realistic cosmic models, and infer hidden parameters with greater accuracy.

Impact of AI on Astronomy
By leveraging AI advancements, astronomers can now extract deeper insights from observational data, model complex astrophysical systems with improved precision, and enhance
scientific discovery. AI applications range from detecting exoplanets and classifying galaxies to modeling black hole mergers and reconstructing cosmological structures. These
methodologies not only refine our understanding of the universe but also pave the way for future discoveries.

Equipping Students with Interdisciplinary Skills
The IMPRS Summer School 2025 is designed to provide participants with hands-on experience in modern AI techniques tailored for astrophysical research. Through lectures, interactive tutorials, and collaborative projects, students will gain expertise in state-of-the-art machine learning frameworks, simulation methodologies, and uncertainty quantification approaches. This interdisciplinary training will prepare attendees to integrate AI into their research and contribute to the advancement of astronomical sciences.

Topics Covered
The summer school will feature a series of lectures and hands-on sessions led by leading experts in AI and astrophysics. The key topics include:

- Differential programming and generative models
   --  normalizing flows and diffusion models and their applications in stellar spectra analysis and astrophysical modeling, among others

- Advanced probabilistic approaches for astrophysical data interpretation
  --   among others Simulation-Based Inference and its application to galaxies, the interstellar medium, Cosmology, and large-scale structure

- Representation learning, multimodal learning, Foundation models and large language models in astronomy
   --   exploring applications of pre-trained AI models in astronomical research

- Robustness of deep learning models, domain adaptation and interpretable machine learning models for physics discovery
   --   among others gravitational lens parameter inference or cosmological parameter estimation with Graph Neural Networks

 

School format  

   The school has four main components spread throughout the week

        1. A series of structured lectures given by the five lecturers.

        2. Problem-solving sessions based on the topics given in the lectures.

        3. Presentations by local experts to open specific scientific problems.

        4. A social program to enable and encourage scientific interaction between students, lecturers and speakers.

 

 

Further information / registration

- Applications cannot be accepted after the deadline.

- Here you can find more information about directions & accomodation

- Here is a link to the program (coming soon)

- Here is a link to the list of participants (coming soon).