Proposals
Trimester Program Information
HIM encourages international scientists from all areas of mathematics, mathematical economics, and mathematical physics to submit proposals for trimester programs. There are three programs in an academic year, the fall program from September to December, the winter program from January to April, and the summer program from May to August. A trimester program gives organizers the opportunity to invite researchers from their field of research. In addition to hosting longer-term guests, the organizers plan a school for students, a conference and two workshops (or a school and up to three workshops). The HIM can host about 30 people at a time. The idea is to bring together people from different career stages, 10 senior scientists, 10 postdocs, and 10 PhD students. In addition to invited experts, other researchers can apply for participation. HIM provides fellowships and arrangements, commensurate with the academic status and the duration of stay. The HIM policies imply in-person-attendance.
For further details concerning the organization of a trimester program, please contact him-coordination@hcm.uni-bonn.de.
Call for Proposals
A proposal for a Trimester Program should be written in a way that gives the members of the Scientific Advisory Board a clear picture of the topics and the goals of the program. There are no formal requirements. But a proposal should contain the following key items:
- title, brief description of the overall aims of the trimester program, and proposed time slots for the program (first and second choice)
- a list of 3-5 organizers including their current academic status and their affiliation (every organizer should commit to staying at least one month at the program)
- a more detailed description including core topics and methods, important developments and research goals
- planned core activities (for example two workshops, one conference, one school) and a list of possible organizers for these activities
- additional planned activities (such as seminars, working groups and so on)
- a list of prospective long-term participants (with a stay of ideally at least one month); please attach emails from these colleagues where they express interest in participating
- bibliography
We recommend to send a draft of the proposal at least two weeks prior to submission so that can provide feedback on formal requirements.
When making their selections, the Scientific Advisory Board also considers ad adequate gender balance among organizers and participants, a good representation of early-career researchers, and international diversity.
The deadline for next submitting a proposal will be the 30th of September 2025. The decision of the Scientific Advisory Board is expected in February 2026.
The Scientific Advisory Board decides about three programs taking place in the period between September 2027 and August 2028. Proposals can be sent in at any time until September 30. They should be sent (preferably by e-mail) to:
Prof. Dr. Karl-Theodor Sturm
Director of HIM
Poppelsdorfer Allee 45
53115 Bonn, Germany
sturm@iam.uni-bonn.de

Invitation to core participants
The organizers should contact selected core participants in due time and discuss clarify possible dates of their visits. The official invitations will be sent out by HIM.
Selection of additional participants
Every Trimester Program at HIM includes additional participants selected by an open application process. HIM puts an online application form on the website of the Trimester Program. The organizers select participants based on letters of intent, CVs, lists of publications, and recommendation letters.
Organization of a school
A school consists of lectures series and additional activities aimed at early-career researchers. Organizers can invite up to 4 key speakers, which have to be present for a minimum of 3 days and hold a minimum of 3 talks. Additional speakers can be invited for single talks. In addition to the early-career researchers participating in the trimester program during the time of the school, up to 20 participants (out of a pool of applications, submitted via a corresponding platform) may be invited.
Organization of a conference
A trimester program can involve a bigger conference in the Math Center of the University of Bonn. The organizers can invite up to 16 speakers and 10 selected early-career participants who receive travel and accommodation. In addition, all guests of the Trimester Program, and 30 additional registrants can participants.
Organization of workshops
A workshop is a five-day event for participants of the Trimester Program. The organizers can invite up to 10 speakers who will receive accommodation. Given the limitation of available seats in the lecture hall, we recommend to limit a workshop to 40 overall participants.
Public Talk
HIM is very interested in outreach activities and each trimester program includes a public talk by a participant. The lectures should only presuppose basic mathematical knowledge.
Additional activities
We encourage self-organized additional activities like seminar series, working groups, or social activities.
The overall budget for the Trimester Program is 330.000 €. All participant costs and all costs for additional activities such as workshops must come from the budget. HIM usually pays a monthly fellowship to long-term guests, from which they pay all expenses, i.e. travel, housing, meals, and so on. As a basic principle, HIM does not pay travel subsidies to senior scientists. For short-term guests we provide single accommodation.
There are 30 work desks at the Institute. There are about 20 more work desks in Poppelsdorfer Allee 82 available for HIM. Participants of workshops do not get offices.
The HIM Lecture Hall accommodates 40 persons comfortably (maximally 49 persons). Standard equipment includes chairs (w/o desks or tables), projector with connected PC (presentations on a USB drive), 2-part chalk board (vertical extension), a sound system. Video recording and streaming is possible on request.