How does the brain learn? How are memories formed, and how does the nervous system control our behavior? These are just some of the questions explored by computational neuroscience. The field combines experimental neuroscience with mathematical models and computer simulations, opening up new ways of understanding how the brain works.

At the Bernstein Conference 2026, more than 600 researchers from around the world will gather at Goethe University Frankfurt from September 28 to October 1. The international conference brings together scientists from a range of disciplines, from systems neuroscience and neuroengineering to artificial intelligence and data science. Around 45 percent of participants are researchers at early career stages.

The scientific program focuses, among other topics, on the neural foundations of learning, memory, and behavior. Invited speakers will explore questions such as how the brain controls learned movements, how social behaviors arise in the brain, and how different temporal dynamics of neural activity contribute to information processing. The conference thus highlights the broad scope of computational neuroscience, from fundamental questions in brain research to potential applications in technology and medicine.

Valentin Braitenberg Award 2026 and 100 years of Valentin Braitenberg

One of the highlights of the conference is the presentation of the Valentin Braitenberg Award for Computational Neuroscience 2026 to theoretical physicist and neuroscientist Prof. Xiao-Jing Wang (New York University).

The award, funded by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano–South Tyrol, is normally presented every two years and honors outstanding contributions to computational neuroscience. In 2026, the award will be presented in addition to the regular award cycle to mark Valentin Braitenberg’s 100th birthday. The award ceremony will take place on September 29, followed by a keynote lecture by Wang. Further information about the awardee and the Valentin Braitenberg Award is available in our press release of June 24, 2026.

The anniversary will also be marked by a special evening event on September 29: “Science fiction in the service of science: Readings from Valentin Braitenberg’s Vehicles,” featuring Stefan Rotter (University of Freiburg) and Abigail Morrison (Forschungszentrum Jülich). Vehicles – Experiments in Synthetic Psychology is one of Braitenberg’s most influential books. The event will explore how the thought experiments presented in the book continue to shape computational neuroscience today.

The Bernstein Conference 2026

The Bernstein Conference is organized by the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience in collaboration with Goethe University Frankfurt. The conference begins with the Satellite Workshops on September 28 and 29, offering participants the opportunity to explore selected topics in computational neuroscience in greater depth. The main conference follows from September 29 to October 1, featuring scientific presentations and poster sessions.

Key dates

• Bernstein Conference 2026: September 28 – October 1, 2026
• Venue: Goethe University Frankfurt, Campus Westend
• Opening: Tuesday, September 29, 2:00 p.m., Lecture Hall 1 of the Hörsaalzentrum (Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 5, 60323 Frankfurt am Main)
• Valentin Braitenberg Award 2026 ceremony: Tuesday, September 29, 3:00 p.m.
• Special evening event celebrating Valentin Braitenberg’s 100th birthday: Tuesday, September 29, 8:00 p.m.

Press

Members of the press are warmly invited to attend the Bernstein Conference. Media representatives can attend free of charge. Interviews with scientists can be arranged upon request. More details can be found here.

Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience

The Bernstein Conference is organized by the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience. The Bernstein Network is a research network in the field of computational neuroscience; this research field combines experimental approaches in neuroscience with theoretical models and computer simulations. The network grew out of a funding initiative by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and was established in 2004 with the aim of developing capacity in computational neuroscience and promoting the transfer of theoretical insights into clinical and technological applications. The network is named after the German physiologist and biophysicist Julius Bernstein (1839–1917). Since 2016, the network has continued to operate under the umbrella of the non-profit association Bernstein Netzwerk Computational Neuroscience e.V.