# Thematic Semester POPULATE: Summary and perspectives

Christophe Henry

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## To cite this version:

Christophe Henry. Thematic Semester POPULATE: Summary and perspectives. Complex Days 2026, Académie Systèmes Complexes, Feb 2026, Nice, France. hal-05530410

HAL Id: hal-05530410

https://hal.science/hal-05530410v1

Submitted on 27 Feb 2026

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Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 - Attribution - International License
Thematic Semester POPULATE :

Summary and perspectives

Complex Days

February 12 & 13th, 2026

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Layout of the presentation

* What was the Thematic Semester about?

- Context

- Applications

* Which events took place during the Semester ?

- Overview

* Future plans
# What was the Thematic Semester about ?

## Topic: Population dynamics

* What is population dynamics ?

<table><tr><td>Population dynamics</td><td>Evolution in time of the characteristics associated to a number of individuals in a population.</td></tr><tr><td>Type of individuals</td><td><ul><li>Living beings (e.g. fishes, birds, insects, humans, viruses)</li><li>Inorganic objects (e.g. ashes, dusts, droplets).</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>Type of characteristics</td><td><ul><li>Size of the population</li><li>Age of each entity</li><li>Weight of each entity</li><li>Composition of each entity</li></ul></td></tr></table>
# What was the Thematic Semester about ?

## Topic: Population dynamics

* Which applications were involved ?

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Environment & agriculture**
Green algae in Finistère (wikipedia)</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Ecology & biology**
Tiger mosquito (wikipedia)</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Human dynamics**
Road traffic (wikipedia)</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Epidemics**
SARS-CoV-2 virus (wikipedia)</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Geophysical fluids**
Sediments in a river delta (NASA)</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>**Particle accretion**
Protoplanetary disk (wikipedia)</figcaption></figure>

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A range of applications
# What was the Thematic Semester about ?

* **Topic: Population dynamics**

* What are the key challenges ?

Understand the processes at stake ...

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**Dynamics**
(individual / collective motion, interactions, environment, etc.)

... in order to : (1) predict/simulate, (2) control and/or (3) optimize

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A range of challenges
# What was the Thematic Semester about ?

* **Topic: Population dynamics**

* What were the main objectives ?

* Gather researchers from the various communities involved

* Share tools & methods among communities

* Initiate new collaborations

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# Layout of the presentation

* What was the Thematic Semester about?

– Context

– Applications

* Which events took place during the Semester ?

– Overview

* Future plans
# Which events took place ?

## Event 1: Spring Conference

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<table><tr><td>Topic</td><td>Population dynamics: from data to models</td></tr><tr><td>Dates</td><td>From March 10<sup>th</sup> until March 14<sup>th</sup> (5 days)</td></tr><tr><td>Location</td><td>Inria Center at Université Côte d'Azur<br/>Sophia Antipolis</td></tr><tr><td>Participants</td><td><ul><li>40 registered participants (16 from Université Côte d'Azur), including:</li><li>5 organizers</li><li>9 invited 'keynote' speakers</li><li>19 regular talks</li><li>2 posters</li></ul>Plus 10 to 20 free audience guests.</td></tr><tr><td>Costs</td><td>17 500 € (including 13 000 € from the Thematic Semester funding)</td></tr></table>
# Which events took place ?

## Event 2: Summer School

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<table><tr><td>Topic</td><td>Population dynamics: from fundamental to applied science</td></tr><tr><td>Dates</td><td>From June 16<sup>th</sup> until June 27<sup>th</sup> (12 days)</td></tr><tr><td>Location</td><td>Village AEC Les Cèdres Grasse</td></tr><tr><td>Participants</td><td><ul><li>34 registered participants (8 from Université Côte d'Azur), including :</li><li>5 organizers</li><li>7 invited lecturers</li><li>22 regular participants (with 13 grants)</li></ul>Plus 2 free audience guests.</td></tr><tr><td>Costs</td><td>57 500 € (including 33 500 € from the Thematic Semester funding)</td></tr></table>
# Which events took place ?

## Event 3: Fall Conference

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<table><tr><td>Topic</td><td>Population dynamics: model design, optimization, control</td></tr><tr><td>Dates</td><td>From October 13<sup>th</sup> until October 17<sup>th</sup> (5 days)</td></tr><tr><td>Location</td><td>LJAD laboratory in Valrose Campus Nice</td></tr><tr><td>Participants</td><td><ul><li>53 registered participants (30 from Université Côte d'Azur), including :</li><li>5 organizers</li><li>8 invited 'keynote' speakers</li><li>21 regular participants</li></ul>Plus 3 to 5 free audience guests.</td></tr><tr><td>Costs</td><td>~13 000 € (including 13 000 € from the Thematic Semester funding)</td></tr></table>
# Which events took place ?

* Overall timeline of the semester

* Preparation phase (year 1): October 2023 – June 2024

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# Which events took place ?

* Overall timeline of the semester

* Preparation phase (year 1): October 2023 – June 2024

* Realization phase (year 2): July 2024 – December 2025

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# Layout of the presentation

* What was the Thematic Semester about?

– Context

– Applications

* Which events took place during the Semester ?

– Overview

* Future plans
# What are future plans ?

## Follow-up events & works

* Planned events:

* 2027 POPULATE Conference:
    → initiate a regular meeting every two or three years

* Pursue collaborative works

* Internships or common work between partners involved in POPULATE

* Renewed visits of international partners
Thanks to all our sponsors

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UNIVERSITÉ
CÔTE D'AZUR

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Initiative d'Excellence

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RÉPUBLIQUE
FRANÇAISE

Liberté
Égalité
Fraternité

Inria

DOEBLIN

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RÉPUBLIQUE
FRANÇAISE

Liberté
Égalité
Fraternité

INRAO

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MATHÉMATIQUES & INTERACTIONS

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RÉPUBLIQUE
FRANÇAISE

Liberté
Égalité
Fraternité

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Thank you for your attention

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