Last week, Ulm University hosted the TDA School 2026 “Topological Data Analysis: From Persistent Homology to Mapper” at the Dr. Barbara Mez-Starck-Haus. The school was organised within the DUHN–DAAD-supported Double-Degree Programme Ulm–Kharkiv and brought together young researchers in mathematics and computer science.
The programme combined rigorous mathematical foundations with hands-on data analysis. In the theoretical track, I. Limonchenko and V. Chernyshev introduced participants to topology, homology and cohomology, persistent homology, barcodes and stability, as well as toric topology. In the practical track, L. Poliakova and O. Leonov covered data preprocessing, dimensionality reduction and the Mapper framework, with Python-based sessions using tools such as GUDHI, Ripser, giotto-tda and Kepler Mapper.
A central part of the school was the team project: small groups selected their own datasets, developed a complete topological analysis and presented their results on the final day. Participants also presented their own research in contributed talks, and two non-graded quizzes helped consolidate the material.
Beyond the academic programme, a welcome reception, a conference dinner and guided tours of the campus and the city of Ulm offered room for informal exchange. The school was organised by Dr. Mikhail Chebunin and Prof. Dr. Evgeny Spodarev and further strengthened the academic cooperation between Ulm University and V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.
Visit the official school website.