Faculty of Science nnd Informatics Institute of Physics

The Baja Astronomical Observatory, part of the University of Szeged since 2015, has been a center of astronomical research for six decades. Among the researchers based at the observatory is astronomer Tamás Borkovits, whose theoretical work played a key role in the recent identification of the most compact 3+1 hierarchical stellar system known to date. When we met him, he had just finished conducting an exam for SZTE master’s students in astronomy. How did a calculation he had developed with no expectation that it would ever leave his desk drawer become the key to solving an astronomical mystery? What does the daily work of an astronomer actually involve? And can scientific inquiry and spirituality coexist? These were among the central topics of our conversation.

How can artificial intelligence tackle mathematical challenges? What breakthroughs might quantum computing unlock? And what secrets of the Universe are hidden in gravitational waves? These were among the questions explored by more than 100 doctoral researchers who gathered at the University of Szeged’s Bolyai Institute for a three-day international scientific event. The event comprised two interconnected conferences that brought together mathematicians, computer scientists, and physicists to showcase cutting-edge research and foster new collaborations, international networks, and lasting friendships.