Mathematical aspects of material science - Discrete and continuum descriptions of matter

The workshop will focus on a few specific systems and topics such as polymers, granular materials, biological membranes, friction and lubrication at small scales. In these areas, exchange between discrete and continuum viewpoints has proved particularly fruitful, leading to the establishment of new bridges among Physics, Biology, Engineering and Mathematics. The aim of the workshop is to bring together a small group of carefully selected experts covering a broad range of fields and disciplines, in order to explore the potential for further future exchange. The setting of Ringberg Castle is uniquely well suited for the success of initiatives of the type being planned, which require in-depth, high-level interactions across traditional disciplinary boundries.