European ㅤEPICS Summer School 2026

Europe/Stockholm
Tycho Brahe (ESS)

Tycho Brahe

ESS

Timo Korhonen (European Spallation Source ERIC)
Description

The EPICS Summer School 2026 is the third instance in the series of summer schools concentrating on control systems for scientific facilities. The school will take place at the European Spallation Source ERIC in Lund, Sweden, following the first two that were organised by Helmholz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB).

The school is primarily oriented towards people who have little or no previous experience with the EPICS control system toolbox.

During the event, you will gain insights into the engineering principles underlying particle accelerators and other large-scale scientific projects. You will learn how scientists and engineers collaborate to conduct groundbreaking experiments and operate these machines with the highest level of precision. You will acquire a deep understanding of the control systems that govern big scientific projects (and some smaller ones) and have the opportunity to work on a hands-on project utilizing real scientific hardware.

The School program includes:

  • Presentations by expert scientists and engineers to learn how big (and small) experimental facilities work and why they are important.
  • Training to introduce the fundamentals of  EPICS (the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System.)
  • Learning about distributed control systems and how they are built, from top to bottom.
  • Work in small groups on a challenging project using real hardware (details to be announced).
  • Visit the European Spallation Source guided by our scientists and engineers.

 

Who should attend

  • Students nearing graduation who are seeking to broaden their knowledge of control systems for large-scale scientific projects.
  • Professionals in science and technology who want to strengthen their knowledge of control systems, in particular with EPICS. 

What is included

  • Lunch and Coffee breaks.
  • Event Dinner and Social Activities

 

There will be no registration fee for the school, but students should be prepared to cover the accommodation and travel costs. ESS is preparing affordable accommodation options for students in the vicinity of ESS.

 

The event language will be English.

    • Welcome and introduction: Practical issues and introduction Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Welcome to the 2026 EPICS Summer School

      Convener: Timo Korhonen (European Spallation Source ERIC)
      • 1
        Registration
      • 2
        Welcome to the summer school
        Speaker: Henrik Carling (European Spallation Source ERIC)
      • 3
        Practical issues and introduction
        Speaker: Timo Korhonen (European Spallation Source ERIC)
      • 09:50
        Break
    • Welcome and introduction: Presentations Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Welcome to the 2026 EPICS Summer School

      • 4
        Science with synchrotrons

        Introduction to science with synchrotrons, with examples from MAX IV. Focus on control system\s role.

        Speaker: Mirjam Lindberg (MAXIV)
      • 5
        The EPICS Collaboration
        Speaker: Ralph Lange (ITER Organization)
      • 6
        The ITER Project: the world's largest fusion experiment
        Speaker: Ralph Lange (ITER Organization)
    • 12:00
      Lunch break Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Lunch provided at the site

    • Welcome and introduction: Presentations Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Welcome to the 2026 EPICS Summer School

      • 7
        EPICS in small laboratories
        Speaker: Heinz Junkes (Fritz-Haber-Institut)
      • 8
        Building Better Together: How Open Source Models Encourage Collaborative Innovation in Engineering
        Speaker: Luca Porzio (Helmholz Zentrum Berlin)
      • 14:45
        Coffee break
      • 9
        Data acquisition and processing at ESS
        Speaker: Matt Clarke (European Spallation Source ERIC)
    • EPICS training Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Introduction to EPICS

    • 12:00
      Lunch break Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

    • EPICS training: Training continues Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Introduction to EPICS

    • EPICS training: Training day 2 Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Introduction to EPICS

      Convener: Simon Rose (European Spallation Source ERIC)
    • 12:00
      Lunch break Cafeteria

      Cafeteria

      ESS

    • Site visit(s) Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Visiting ESS site and (to be confirmed) the synchrotron lab MAX-IV.

      Conveners: Hector Novella (European Spallation Source ERIC), Timo Korhonen (European Spallation Source ERIC)
    • Training continues Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Talks related to control systems and applications in science and other fields

      Convener: Simon Rose (European Spallation Source ERIC)
    • 12:00
      Lunch break Cafeteria

      Cafeteria

      ESS

    • Training continues: Topical talks Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Talks related to control systems and applications in science and other fields

      Convener: Simon Rose (European Spallation Source ERIC)
    • Training continues: More presentations plus discussion Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Talks related to control systems and applications in science and other fields

      • 10
        Role of the controls engineer
        Speaker: Timo Korhonen (European Spallation Source ERIC)
      • 10:00
        Coffee break
      • 11
        Introduction to user interface design (UX)
        Speakers: Balazs Nagy (Evopro Innovation Kft), Dirk Nordt (European Spallation Source ERIC)
    • 12:00
      Lunch break Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

    • Hands-on training: Introduction to the hands-on trainings and topics. Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • Training continues: OVerview of the ESS Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Talks related to control systems and applications in science and other fields

      Convener: Timo Korhonen (European Spallation Source ERIC)
      • 12
        Introduction to ESS and science with neutrons
        Speaker: Helmut Schober (European Spallation Source)
    • Hands-on training: Start working on the assignments - set up. Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • 12:00
      Lunch break
    • Hands-on training: Work on the projects Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • Hands-on training: Work on the projects Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • 12:00
      Lunch break Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

    • Hands-on training: Work on the projects Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • Hands-on training: Work on the projects Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • 12:00
      Lunch break
    • Hands-on training: Work on the projects Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • Hands-on training: Work on the projects Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • 12:00
      Lunch break
    • Hands-on training: Work on the projects Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • Hands-on training: Project presentations Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Practical training of building EPICS control systems in small (4 person) groups.

    • 12:00
      Lunch break
    • School closeout: Summary, discussion and adjourn. Tycho Brahe

      Tycho Brahe

      ESS

      Closing the school; final remarks and discussion, adjourn.