The SPP 2458 supports program related conferences and thematic workshops. The funds are centrally administered and anybody eligible for DFG funding (i.e. based in Germany and holding PhD) is invited to submit proposals, regardless of funded projects within the SPP.

To apply for event funding, please send a short application containing

1. a description of the event, including dates, speakers, etc.

2. a budget, including a list of items that should be funded by the SPP.

Applications should be send as one pdf file of at most 4 pages to . Please also use this address to clarify details.

Funding decisions are regularly made by the program committee. Any event funded by the SPP should acknowledge this funding by mentioning the SPP in scientific outcomes of the meetings and placing the SPP and DFG logos on the homepage.

The central instrument for attracting talented young mathematicians to combinatorics and its synergies and to facilitate network-building across academic generations is the Summer of Combinatorics (SoC) initiative within the priority program. Inspired by the well-established Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in the US and the German Research Internships in Science and Engineering (DAAD-RISE), SoCs will guide advanced undergraduates to hands-on research in combinatorics and its applications.

A SoC gives an introduction to a particular area of combinatorics followed by work on research projects. Research is done in-person in teams for a period of 4-8 weeks at the hosting instituion or at a separate location. The introduction to the topic is in the form of lectures or reading courses and can also be done online with accompanying virtual meetings. Throughout, supervision and support is provided by professors, postdocs, and PhD students of the SPP. Research projects can come from the whole spectrum of the priority program and are encouraged to incorporate innovative aspects (including the generation and analysis of research data).

SoCs are aimed at Master-level students as well as promising Bachelor students. Members of the priority program can apply for the yearly SoCs. The planning and execution of an SoC is supported by members of program committee, who have considerable experience in the organization of workshops, summer schools, and in incorporating undergraduates in research projects. Postdocs and PhD students of the SPP are encouraged to participate in SoCs as team mentors. This strengthens ties within the SPP as well as provides contacts to prospective generations of researchers. The selection of participants will take into consideration academic as well as diversity and social aspects.

We plan to support 1-4 SoCs per year with a total of 20 participants. Participants will receive accommodation and travel support as well as per diem through stipends. A sufficiently high per diem should enable students to participate without financial losses (by, for example, not being able to take summer jobs).

REUs in the US are very successful (see, for example, the University of Minnesota REU program) and participation is competitive. Our goal is to establish SoCs as a best practice undergraduate-research program within combinatorics and beyond.

Many people consider podcasts an ideal way to learn about new or familiar themes while keeping eyes and hands free to focus on other things (like cooking or riding a bicycle). Podcasts cover all areas of human activity, including mathematics. As part of our outreach component, the priority program will support the dissemination of the fun and creativity of mathematics to the ears of everyone interested. To get you started, here are three mathematical podcasts:

1. Eigenraum by Thomas Kahle (in German) and features low-key math highlights suitable for high school students and above.
2. My favorite Theorem by Evelyn Lamb and Kevin Knutson features interviews with mathematicians and has no quiz at the end.
3. Modellansatz is one of the first math podcasts in German. It has published more than 250 episodes with hundreds of different guests.

By the way, the best way to listen to podcasts is a dedicated podcast app on your phone (e.g. "Apple Podcasts" or "Pod Bean").