HITS - Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies
@hitsters
Est. 2010 by physicist & SAP co-founder Klaus Tschira & Klaus Tschira Foundation as a private, non-profit research institute. Basic research in natural, mathematical, and computer sciences. Application areas range from molecular biology to astrophysics.
Happy Space Exploration Day 🪐⭐ This year, Iliana, Johanna and Sebastian (AIN group), along with Joy and Francisca (TOS group), let us know a little bit more about themselves by answering our space-related "this or that" questions. We’re curious... are you team Black Holes or team Supernovae? 🤔
Join us for the next HITS Colloquium with Sebastian Funk from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who will explore how mathematical models and data help us understand infectious disease outbreaks. 📅 20 July 2026 🕑 2:00–3:00 PM (CEST) 📍 Studio Villa Bosch, Heidelberg (hybrid event)
What if you could cool down without leaving your chair? 🫠🧊 July is here and this month our HITS Calendar takes you to a place where water rushes over rocks, the air feels fresh, and for a few minutes, summer slows down. Close your eyes, press play, and enjoy a refreshing auditory escape. ▶️🐳🌊🛀
We are hiring: PhD student in Asteroseismology (m/f/x) 📍 Heidelberg, Germany (Hybrid) 🎓 MSc in Physics, Astrophysics, or related field required 📅 Application deadline: 19 July 2026 Join a world-class research environment at the heart of Heidelberg’s vibrant astronomy community. ✨
June’s weather lends itself to outside sports. Here’s a tip from us at HITS: The next time you’re watching a game of table tennis, take a moment to pay attention to the sound of the ball against the paddle and the table – you might find that it can tell you a lot about the science behind the game 🏓
🌸 Rhododendrons are in bloom at HITS – bringing color to our campus and a touch of early summer to research days. Here’s a little unedited sneak peek at the sea of blossoms in the HITS garden. 🌸 Happy Friday! Photos © HITS
#ML4ASTRO is back and welcomes your participation! Join us for the ML4ASTRO 2026 workshop on 24 June at Studio Villa Bosch in Heidelberg! When: 24 June 2026 Where: Studio Villa Bosch, Heidelberg Program & Registration: mpi-astronomy.github.io/ml4astro2026/ This image was generated using AI.
Fresh out of the press: The new HITS #AnnualReport 2025 is here. With a fresh new design and insights into our latest research, collaborations, and achievements, the report highlights another exciting year at HITS. Happy reading! 📖 Take a look: www.h-its.org/media/annual...
Beim gestrigen HITS-Kolloquium sprach Alexander Mäder (Hochschule der Medien) über #KünstlicheIntelligenz in der Wissenschaftskommunikation. Im Fokus standen vor allem Verantwortung, Faktencheck und Vertrauen. Die Aufzeichnung erscheint demnächst auf dem HITS-YouTube-Kanal. Stay tuned! Fotos © HITS
Yesterday, our 2026 HITS Journalist in Residence, Monika Mondal, held an insightful public talk on “The Catch 22 of Science and Development”, focusing on the significance of scientific thinking in a fractured world. Stay tuned for a recording of the talk available soon on the HITS YouTube channel!
Beim HITS-Kolloquium am 11.Mai 2026 um 14 Uhr spricht Alexander Mäder (Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart) über: “Flooding the zone with AI – brauchen wir noch Menschen in der Wissenschaftskommunikation?” Mehr Infos: https://kta-email.zoom.us/meeting/register/YJ94DR8dSX-FioATdLHx-w#/registration
It’s May and nature’s concert is underway. 🎵 From the early hours of the morning, you can hear different flocks of birds chirping and trilling in the HITS garden. Listen here and delight in their songs! 📷 Konrad Gräter
HITS Journalist in Residence 2026, Monika Mondal, reflects on her experience at HTS: what drew her to the program and how is the time on site shaping her book project. She also discusses what journalists should ask scientists more often and how being physically present changes science reporting.
Beim Verbundtreffen der Klaus Tschira Stiftung am 23. April 2026 gab HITS Gruppenleiterin Saskia Hekker Einblicke in die Asteroseismologie. In ihrem Talk "Musik der Sterne" zeigte sie, wie sich Sternschwingungen in Klänge übersetzen lassen, um das Innere von Sternen zu erforschen.
HITS Journalist-in-Residence 2026 and award-winning freelance reporter from India, Monika Mondal, will deliver a public talk on 5 May at 2 PM at Studio Villa Bosch. Title: “The Catch-22 of Science & Development” You’re invited to join either in person or online. www.h-its.org/de/event/hit...
We are hiring! 📢 Teamassistenz (w/m/x)! Du möchtest in einem internationalen Forschungsumfeld arbeiten und aktiv zu einem reibungslosen Ablauf im Team beitragen? Dann könnte diese Position genau die richtige für Dich sein. 👇 hits-jobs.softgarden.io/job/64257313... Foto © Glenn Carstens-Peters
If you feel as if the world is rushing by, slow down for a moment and take a virtual walk with us through the HITS garden. We wish you a relaxing weekend 🐸🌺🐦
A very Happy Easter from HITS! We hope this spring day blooms with joy for you and your loved ones. 🌸
Happy 1st of April! We hope you haven’t fallen victim to any jokes today. Take your mind off the day’s silliness for a while with our new calendar page. It features the fountain in our rose garden and the sound of its water dripping smoothly. ⛲🫧 Turn your sound on and tune in to a moment of peace. 🧘
Big congrats to HITS group leader Tilmann Gneiting on receiving the 2026 Wald Memorial Award from the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS)! 🎉 More information: www.h-its.org/2026/03/24/g...
The first HITS newsletter of 2026 is out now! 🎉 📰 Featuring insights into our contributions to the #DYNAVERSE and #SynthImmune Clusters of Excellence, new research on earthquake forecasting, as well as an interview with HITS group leader Kai Polsterer @astroinformatix.bsky.social.
We’re thrilled to celebrate HITS group leader Fabian Schneider on earning his Venia Legendi (Habilitation) from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg! 🎉A truly well-deserved milestone! ✨ Read more here: www.h-its.org/2026/03/05/h...
March is here; spring is near... how many creatures can you hear? From the tiniest insect to the largest bird, they all contribute to the soundscape of the HITS garden. Ready for a new part of life, the toads in our ponds also croak a love song of sorts. Curious? Listen to their serenade here. 🐸
Ever wondered how to make economic forecast honest, transparent, and user-friendly? @kit.edu and HITS researchers show a simple method that: 💡 Quantifes uncertainty 💡 Beats or matches traditional models 💡 Offers real-time interval forecasts Photo © Jakub Żerdzicki www.h-its.org/2026/02/09/f...
February is the shortest month of the year, but the days are getting longer. Make the most of the extra sunlight by taking a walk with someone you love. Stepping on gravel can produce a surprisingly soothing sound that may relax the mind and inspire thought-provoking conversation. Listen below 🔊🌹📅
„Nicht Mensch oder Maschine, sondern ein dynamisches Wechselspiel“ – das Fazit von Vincent Heuveline aus seinem gestrigen Talk „Der KI-Komponist aus den Fugen: zwischen Kreativität & Kalkül". Ein Abend voller Einblicke darin, wie KI und menschliche Intuition die Musik von morgen prägen. Foto © MAINS
Science of Music: HITS-Gruppenleiter Vincent Heuveline nimmt uns morgen mit in die Welt der KI-Komposition mit seinem Vortrag "Der KI-Komponist aus den Fugen: zwischen Kreativität und Kalkül." 📍 Toniq Club | Heidelberg 🗓 22.01.2026 ⏰ Einlass: 18:30 Uhr | Beginn: 19:00 Uhr 🎟 Eintritt frei © HITS
Today marks the launch of the #DYNAVERSECluster 🚀 🌌 We're delighted to celebrate this milestone with our Managing Director Gesa Schönberger and Scientific Director Kai Polsterer on site at the launch event – bringing together leading minds from across institutions and disciplines.
January’s snow signals a new beginning, a fresh start to the year. Dive into the first of twelve pages in our 2026 calendar and let the accompanying sound of crunching snow remind you that the year is yours to shape, one step at a time. 📅❄️ Voiceover: Jackson Ryan – HITS Journalist in Residence 2025
