MATRIX-BIRS Tandem Workshop 2026 – Guidelines

The institutes MATRIX  in Creswick (Australia) and BIRS in Banff (Canada) invite proposals for a tandem workshop taking place simultaneously at MATRIX and BIRS in the week of 22-27 November 2026.

The workshop is held simultaneously in both locations.  10-20 participants may be hosted at MATRIX and 10-21 participants at BIRS, who can interact in an intense way locally and in addition share a certain number of joint lectures/discussions via zoom (for example MATRIX, Creswick 9-11 am could match up with BIRS, Banff at 3-5 pm the day prior). Talks given outside this time slot can be recorded via zoom for viewing by participants at the other institute, but not publicly.

Submit proposal at: https://www.matrix-inst.org.au/call-for-programs/

Closing date: Monday, 1 September 2025

MATRIX-BIRS Tandem Workshop 2026 Proposal Guidelines

Proposal Format

Workshop name: 
  • State the title of your tandem workshop   e.g. “MATRIX-BIRS Tandem Workshop 2026: TITLE“
Workshop organisers:
  • A team or organisers should include at least two organisers planning to attend in person for each location
  • Include each organiser’s details (affiliated university and email address).
  • Aim for gender diversity amongst the organising group. Please comment on reasons for any imbalance.
  • Publication lists of the organisers.
Dates for your workshop
  • must be the week of 22-27 November 2026
Workshop description: (4-6 pages)
  • Description of the topic and focus of the workshop.
  • Recent results and references.
  • Proposed program of the tandem workshop. Take into account the different time zones. For example, schedule main talks with real-time transmissions in time slots 9-11 am at MATRIX and 3-5 pm at BIRS the day prior. More technical talks, longer talks etc. can be recorded via zoom for availability at the other center.

A convincing proposal makes a good case for the proposed workshop program. Excellence is one of the main selection criteria.
Participant list:
  • List of 10-20 suggested participants at MATRIX and 10-21 participants at BIRS.
  • The proposal should contain two (2) lists of intended invitees with sufficient diversity according to the the MATRIX and BIRS requirements.
  • Comment on the balance in this list relative to gender and affiliation planned for each institute (i.e. two lists of intended invitees; please consider diversity issues of each institute).
MATRIX Annals: The MATRIX Annals is a book of papers related to research programs held at MATRIX; see https://www.matrix-inst.org.au/book-series/ for more details. The organisers of this MATRIX-BIRS workshop are required to appoint a guest editor who will encourage participants to submit papers to the MATRIX Annals, organise appropriate refereeing, and ensure the scientific quality of accepted papers. Participants from MATRIX or BIRS are welcome to submit papers.
Workshop budget: Consider the factors below when drafting your budget. Limit this section to 300 words. Creswick (On Campus) Accommodation and Catering
  • MATRIX will fund on‐site accommodation and catering – continental breakfast (Monday to Sunday) and dinner (Monday to Friday) for up to 20 participants. If organisers wish to invite more than 20 participants, program organisers will need to arrange funding.

Transport

  • MATRIX will provide the cost of one shuttle bus for the day prior to the commencement of the program to collect participants from Ballarat (Train) Station for transfer to the Creswick Campus.
  • MATRIX will provide the cost of one coach on the last day of the program, to transfer participants from the Creswick Campus to Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport with a final stop at Southern Cross Station (Melbourne CBD).

Family Fund

  • MATRIX offers a Family Fund for those who require family accommodation and/or child care services.  These are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please note, spouses are not funded by MATRIX.

Other External Funding

Workshop proposals will be reviewed by a MATRIX-BIRS joint-committee comprised of members of the institutes’ respective Scientific Committees. The outcome of your workshop proposal will be communicated to you by the MATRIX Programs Coordinator in November 2025, following the meeting of the sub-committee in mid-October 2025.

MATRIX Contacts

If you have any questions, please contact the MATRIX Office via email at office@matrix-inst.org.au