In all fields of science, recent decades have been marked by advances in high-performance computing and its growing use in intelligent tools and methods. These advances have made it possible to increase the volume of simulations and to process masses of data that were previously unimaginable.

Radio science hasn’t escaped this paradigm shift. New approaches such as statistical modelling, machine learning and, more broadly, artificial intelligence have emerged and are now in use.

This is largely behind the choice of theme for the 2026 URSI-France scientific workshop (JS 26): ‘Intelligent tools and methods for radio sciences’, with the following sub-topics:

• Automatic calibration of RF/EM instruments using AI, noise reduction and uncertainty quantification,
• Digital twins for optimising measurement benches and detecting sensor anomalies,
• PINNs and physical models (Maxwell), surrogates/ROMs for accelerating calculations,
• Generative AI and inverse design for materials, metasurfaces and multi-objective optimisation,
• Cell-Free Massive MIMO, RIS/intelligent metasurfaces, ISAC and semantic communications,
• Edge AI, Federated Learning OTA, PHY energy optimisation and data-driven networks (traffic forecasting, digital twins),
• Stochastic geometry and ML for positioning and deep reinforcement learning for dynamic adaptation,
• Foundation models and AI4Science for EM/photonics devices,
• Meta-learning, AutoML, hybrid physics–AI models, Bayesian optimisation and XAI,
• Interference detection and characterisation, system protection and susceptibility to interference,
• AI for antenna design and optimisation (beamforming, DOA), smart radars and SAR/sub-THz radar,
• Earth observation and remote sensing (soil moisture, water cycle),
• Microwave, millimeter and biomedical imaging,
• AI for EMF exposure modelling/prediction, dosimetry, medical implants, guided EM therapies and spatio-temporal mapping.

The workshop will be structured around keynote and invited communications, and oral and poster sessions, with the aim of allowing a fruitful meeting between young scientists, experienced researchers and industry players, participants or exhibitors.

►The program will include an open session, allowing young scientists to present work on any subject relating to radio science.

► Furthermore, the URSI policy of supporting the participation of women in radioscience strongly encourages them to make their work visible within the framework of JS 26 workshop.

See the call for papers - submission deadline: January 15, 2026

• A “Young researcher” grant of 300 euros and free registration will be provided to the main author and presenter of the best article, if the candidate is under 35 on March 26, 2024, and affiliated with a European laboratory other than French.

  The best paper “Young Scientist” award will be selected by the scientific committee. The young scientist must be a Ph.D. student or post-doctoral student and the first author of the paper. It is recommended to submit a paper rather than a short summary.

  These two allocations are independent and may turn out to be given to the same person.

All updated and relevant information can be found on the workshop web site.