Dates: June 15th – June 19th 2026.
Mode of Study: on campus.
Course fee: €250 (includes accommodation and meals).
The goal of the OPSFA Summer School (OPSF-S11) is to equip participants with foundational knowledge, modern methods, and practical tools in the field of orthogonal polynomials and special functions, as well as their diverse applications. The 2026 edition continues the tradition of the OPSFA Summer School series. While classical aspects of orthogonal polynomials and special functions will be covered, the program also includes more advanced and contemporary topics. These include asymptotic methods for orthogonal polynomials, Padé approximants, connections between orthogonal polynomials and areas such as sparse interpolation, exponential analysis, Gaussian integration, random tilings, multivariate orthogonal polynomials, and diagrammatic and harmonic analysis techniques.
The school is designed to engage interaction and collaboration. Lectures will be complemented by tutorials, problem sessions, and opportunities for participants to present their own research. Ample time is set aside for discussion with invited speakers and organizers—leading specialists who actively shape current research directions. The program welcomes Master’s and PhD students as well as postdoctoral researchers, creating a dynamic environment that bridges different stages of academic development. The themes of OPSF-S11 are closely tied to core areas of mathematics, physics, and engineering, including differential equations, linear algebra, complex and functional analysis, group and operator theory, numerical computation, and approximation theory. A working knowledge of these subjects is expected.
Orthogonal Polynomials, Special Functions, and Applications (OPSF) has not only been shaped by the biennial OPSFA conferences, but also by a series of Summer Schools created to train and connect young researchers. These schools offer compact lecture courses, problem sessions, and mentoring in an immersive setting, and many editions have produced curated lecture notes. Since the first edition in 2000, hosting duties have rotated across institutions and countries, broadening participation and strengthening the community. As with many scientific activities, the cadence has varied over time, but the series continues to thrive and to complement the OPSFA meetings.
To date, the OPSF Summer Schools have been:
- OPSF-S1: Laredo (Spain), July 24–28, 2000 (Laredo Lecture Notes).
- OPSF-S2: Inzell (Germany), September 17–21, 2001 (Inzell Lectures).
- OPSF-S3: Leuven (Belgium), August 12–16, 2002 (Lecture Notes in Mathematics 1817).
- OPSF-S4: Coimbra (Portugal), July 14–26, 2003 (Coimbra Lecture Notes).
- OPSF-S5: Leganés (Spain), July 8–18, 2004 (Lecture Notes in Mathematics 1883).
- OPSF-S6: College Park, Maryland (USA), July 11–15, 2016 (Lectures on Orthogonal Polynomials and Special Functions).
- OPSF-S7: Canterbury (UK), June 26–30, 2017.
- OPSF-S8: Sousse (Tunisia), June 25–29, 2018.
- OPSF-S9: Radboud University (The Netherlands), August 8–12, 2022.
- OPSF-S10: Rome (Italy), July 29–August 2, 2024
The upcoming OPSF-S11 continues this trajectory, offering a unique opportunity to learn, collaborate, and contribute to a vibrant and expanding research community.