Program
STM'27 brings the global scanning probe microscopy community together for five days of science, networking, and community-building at the University of Stuttgart. The scientific program consists of one plenary lecture each morning, three parallel thematic sessions through the day, poster sessions, and the Eigler Award session mid-week. Special sessions throughout the week address career development, community engagement, and networking.
A satellite workshop precedes the main conference, offering tutorial-style introductory lectures in experiment and theory. The workshop is designed to give attendees, particularly young scientists, a foundation in the subfields outside their own.
Registration is scheduled to open 1 February 2027.
The preliminary program below is subject to change until after registration has closed.
Preliminary Conference Program
Format and Structure
Five conference days. Each morning opens with a 50-minute plenary lecture addressing a theme of broad interest to the community. Three parallel thematic sessions then run through the day across the five focus areas — Quantum Materials, Spins on Surfaces, Light-Matter Interaction, On-Surface Chemistry, and Novel Techniques — scheduled so that no two sessions on the same topic run in parallel.
Each thematic session consists of one invited talk (40 minutes) followed by three to five contributed talks (15 minutes each). The program accommodates approximately 40 invited talks, 6 plenary lectures, and roughly 150 contributed talks, alongside two dedicated poster sessions.
An industrial exhibition runs for the full duration of the conference, positioned along the routes between halls and coffee areas. The exhibition is a central networking space, not a separate side activity.
Contributed talks are assigned after abstract submission. See the Invited Speakers section for the confirmed speaker list.
Special Sessions
STM'27 includes a series of special sessions beyond the standard scientific program, designed to build community, support early-career researchers, and recognize outstanding work.
Eigler Award Session
The Eigler Award honors outstanding doctoral research in scanning tunneling microscopy and recognizes the next generation of researchers who are pushing the STM frontier. Finalists present their work in a dedicated plenary session on Wednesday morning. The award is stewarded in partnership with the American Physical Society's GIMS unit. Learn more here.
When: Wednesday Plenary Session, 22 September 2027
Women in Science Session
An open discussion on experiences, challenges, and opportunities for women in scanning probe science and related fields. The session brings together researchers across career stages and is open to all conference attendees.
When: Tuesday evening, 21 September 2027
Career Session
A structured session for graduate students and postdocs exploring career paths in and beyond academia. Senior researchers and industry scientists share their experiences and answer questions in an open-format discussion.
When: Tuesday lunch break, 21 September 2027
Poster Session with Award
All contributed research is presented in interactive poster sessions, offering direct dialogue between presenters and the community. Outstanding contributions are recognized with a dedicated Best Poster Award, announced at the closing ceremony on Friday.
When: Tuesday evening (Session 1) and Thursday evening (Session 2)
Young Scientists Gathering
A dedicated event for graduate students and early-career researchers to connect, exchange ideas, and build networks within the STM community. Informal and open to all young scientists attending STM'27.
(Capacity may be limited; early registration recommended)
When: Monday evening, 20 September 2027
Where: UniThekle, Campus Vaihingen
Conference Dinner
The STM'27 conference dinner takes place at the Alte Reithalle, a historic venue in central Stuttgart. The evening offers a seated dinner, drinks, and extended time for informal conversation across the community.
The conference dinner is a ticketed event with an additional small fee on top of the regular registration. Ticket details will be published together with the registration form.
When: Thursday evening, 23 September 2027
Where: Alte Reithalle, Stuttgart
After-Conference Social Evening
After the scientific program concludes, a social evening takes place at Cannstatter Wasen, Stuttgart’s famous Oktoberfest-style autumn festival. The timing of STM’27 coincides with the Wasen’s main festival weeks, giving attendees a uniquely Stuttgart evening of regional food, beer, and community.
Table reservations are arranged through the STM'27 registration; food, drinks, and entry at the venue are paid individually by attendees.
When: Friday evening, 24 September 2027
Where: Cannstatter Wasen, Stuttgart
Satellite Workshop
The STM’27 Satellite Workshop is a three-day event at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, held in the days immediately before the main conference. It is designed as a bridge into the subfields of scanning probe microscopy for researchers who want working knowledge of them before stepping into the full STM’27 program.
The workshop offers tutorial-style lectures in both experiment and theory across three focus areas: Spins on Surfaces, Light–Matter Interaction, and Quantum Materials. Each lecture is pitched for graduate students and early-career researchers who are strong in their own subfield but new to the others — not technical talks for experts, but longer, slower sessions that build intuition and vocabulary.
The format is deliberately smaller and more interactive than the main conference. Participants can ask questions throughout, speak with the lecturers between sessions, and take time with concepts that would move too quickly in a 15-minute parallel talk.
The workshop is organized by Dr. Anna Rosławska (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research).
Dates: 15 – 17 September 2027
Venue: Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart
Registration: through the main STM’27 registration form, with a small additional fee.
