While a wide range of theoretical candidates has been proposed—from weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) and axions to sterile neutrinos, self-interacting dark matter, and more exotic frameworks—each class of models carries distinct theoretical motivations and predicts different observational signatures. However, these ideas are often developed within partially separated communities, with particle theorists focusing on ultraviolet completions and collider constraints, while astrophysicists emphasize gravitational and cosmological signatures inferred from structure formation, galaxy dynamics, and lensing.Bridging these perspectives is essential.

A clear communication of the underlying theoretical assumptions behind each dark matter scenario allows astrophysical observations to be interpreted in a more model-aware way, avoiding overly generic or misleading constraints. Conversely, astrophysical and cosmological data provide some of the most powerful and sometimes unique probes of dark matter properties, offering guidance for model building and helping to discriminate between competing frameworks that may appear similar at the level of particle physics alone. This exchange is particularly timely given the increasing precision of both experimental searches and astronomical surveys.

 As data quality improves, the interpretation of potential signatures—whether in small-scale structure anomalies, indirect detection signals, or cosmological tensions—requires a coherent understanding of the theoretical landscape. A conference bringing together these communities thus plays a crucial role in aligning language, clarifying assumptions, and fostering a shared framework for identifying robust signatures of dark matter and constraining its fundamental nature.