Social program

Conference Dinner

The conference dinner is a BBQ at the Carolaschlösschen, which is a small palace at the little lake in the big gardens. The tentative menu is (as of January 2026; small adjustments are possible):

Antipasti: Roastbeef with pickles and asparagus, gazpacho, vegan tacos, vegetarian burratini with stewed basil tomatoes, different salads, different breads (ciabatta, focaccia, farmer's bread), different dips (guacamole, curry, cheese-paste)

Grill: Pulled pork, turkey shish kebap, different grilled sausages (German, Spanish & Italian), grilled salmon, grilled cheese, grilled vegetables, baked rosemary potatoes, and some more dips (sweet chili sauce, mangoo-chutney, BBQ-sauce, tsatziki, pepper-pesto, ketchup, mustard)

Desserts: Panna cotta with raspberries, tiramisu, ice-cream

A flatrate for beer, wine & softdrinks is included (4 hours). Cocktails and shots have to be purchased separately.

Early Arrivers Hike

Nearby Saxon Switzerland offers amazing viewpoints and hiking paths ranging from easy walks to challenging tours including some climbing. We want to organize tours on three different levels from a short and scenic walk (about 2 hours walking + 2x30 minutes train) over a longer hike (about 4 hours walk + 2x40 min train) to something a bit more challenging (6-7 hours hike + 2x45 minutes train). These will start at different times on Sunday morning (more details including gpx tracks of the tours, meeting points and schedule follow later). If you wish to participate, you can register for the tours in our shop. The 10,- € cost of the tour will cover the train tickets and a small gift for the students guiding you on the tours. Tours will be cancelled, if less than 5 persons register for a tour.

Welcome Reception

The welcome reception takes place on the 21st of June in the Hilton hotel downtown. The reception will start around 18:00 offering some beverages and a short program to celebrate 50 years of the Polymer Networks Group. The reception is included in the conference ticket. However, due to space limitations, it is appreciated if you indicate your participation in the conference shop.

City Tour

We will arrange for a city tour on the afternoon of the 21st of June (about two hours duration). More information will be available in March 2026.

Late Departures Tour

For all participants departing on Friday, we can offer an evening stroll along the river and the river castles. We will start at the golden rider and finish our walk in a restaurant in Loschwitz. We will add a poll for this event in 2026 to get a rough idea for the restaurant reservation.