Our universe is full of fascinating, puzzling, and often surprising phenomena. Understanding and explaining these phenomena is the task of the new key profile area, Dynamics of the Universe, which is dedicated to exploring precisely those non-linear physical processes and interconnections that govern the complex evolution of the cosmos.

Astronomy and astrophysics have a long tradition in the Cologne-Bonn region. Strongly supported by collaborative research centers, most recently CRC1601, and thanks to well-organised infrastructure, the research hub has thus far been able to keep pace with the rapid developments in the field. Through the coordination of research at the participating partner institutes in Bonn (University of Bonn and MPIfR) and the Forschungszentrum Jülich, and by concentrating expertise in experimental, theoretical, and laboratory astrophysics as well as in detector and instrumentation development, the network remains internationally competitive and visible. This reputation was recently recognised with the award of a new Cluster of Excellence Dynaverse.

As astronomical observatories and instrumentation are now supported by large consortia, successful participation in international collaborations is crucial. This requires an efficient, synergistic foundation that offers long-term perspectives for research and the training of early-career scientists. The key profile area creates an excellent environment for education, early engagement with current research, and the exchange within international collaborations and competitions. Furthermore, interdisciplinary collaboration between physics, computer science, and applied mathematics is now being sustainably strengthened. This is particularly important to meet the challenges posed by the unprecedented volume of observational data with innovative ideas and algorithms, and to enable and efficiently advance complex simulations on the latest hardware technologies.

The following scientific and structural goals and tasks are pursued with the cooperation in the KPA:

1. Studying the physical processes and their interconnections that govern the complex evolution of the cosmos.

2. Coordination of research between experimental, theoretical, and laboratory astrophysics as well as detector and instrumentation development.

3. Establishment of Astroinformatics as a new research field in Cologne.

4. Interdisciplinary collaboration between astrophysics, computer science, and applied mathematics to meet the challenges posed by the unprecedented volume of observational data with innovative ideas and algorithms (such as the Shared Universe Engine), and to enable and efficiently advance complex simulations on heterogeneous hardware technologies.

5. Education and early engagement of students with current research, and the exchange within international collaborations.

6. Public Outreach on the topics of the KPA.