NGCE - Next Generation Activities
The Next Generation in Computational Engineering (NGCE) Committee and the ECCOMAS Young Investigators Committee (EYIC) are pleased to announce the Next Generation Activities at WCCM–ECCOMAS 2026. The conception and realization of these activities are largely driven by the EYIC members, whose involvement is central to the development of the NGCE program. Altogether, the activities are designed to offer a rich and vibrant program for early-career researchers, with the aim of fostering scientific exchange, increasing visibility, and strengthening our community. In short, we are preparing what we believe will be a truly outstanding congress experience for young researchers.
Below is a first overview of the Next Generation Events, which are open to young scientists from all around the world:
Career Lunch
An informal lunch event offering the opportunity to exchange with experienced mentors, discuss career paths, and openly ask questions about challenges and opportunities in academia.
Special Session “Computational Methods for Beginners"
A new session in which invited experts explain their topics in an intuitive and accessible manner, providing an easy entry point to complex computational methods for early-career researchers who do not work directly in these fields.
Arts and Science Contest
A creative competition highlighting the intersection of scientific research and artistic expression. For the first time, the contest will include a physical gallery at the congress, offering increased visibility for artistic and scientific contributions.
Science Slam
A festive evening in a traditional Munich beer hall, where researchers from our community present their work in short, engaging, and entertaining talks for a broad audience.
Pre-Congress City Quest
A professionally organized city quest based on a mobile app, combining sightseeing elements with interactive challenges throughout Munich.
Pre-Congress Private City Tours
Informal city tours organized privately by local scientists, offering personal insights into Munich, its history, and selected scientific or cultural topics.
Pub Crawl
A guided evening tour through several bars in Munich, providing a relaxed and social setting for networking across disciplines and institutions.
ECCOMAS Activities
In addition to the Next Generation Events listed above, several ECCOMAS-wide activities with a strong focus on early-career researchers from Europe will take place during the congress.
ECCOMAS PhD Olympiad
Will be held for the sixteenth time during WCCM–ECCOMAS 2026. Outstanding doctoral theses from across the ECCOMAS community will be recognized, with particular emphasis on excellent scientific quality and clear, engaging presentations. All interested participants are warmly invited to attend the candidates’ presentations.
ECCOMAS Mentor Award
This new recognition will be presented for the first time at WCCM–ECCOMAS 2026, honoring outstanding mentorship and sustained support of early-career researchers within the ECCOMAS community.
EYIC Grant
This early-career boost fund will be awarded, recognizing excellent contributions by a European young investigator.
More detailed information on formats, participation, and timelines will be published very soon on the conference website. We warmly encourage all young researchers to register for the congress and stay tuned for upcoming announcements.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to Munich.
