Spring 2024
Time & Location: All talks are in Gibson Hall 126A on Wednesday at 4:00 PM unless otherwise noted.
Organizer: Dipendranath Mahato
Wednesday, February 7
Topic: Tropical Geometry
Kalina Mincheva - Tulane University
Abstract: In this talk I will give a brief overview of tropical geometry and the philosophy behind it. I will introduce algebraic varieties and their tropical counter parts. I will give some applications and open problems associated to them related to toric degenerations and dual curves.
Location: Gibson Hall 126A
Time: 4:00
Wednesday, February 21
Topic: Mathematical Crossroads: some connections between very different areas of mathematics.
Ken McLaughlin - Tulane University
Abstract: I will try to create a snapshot of the research interests of our small group by taking examples from combinatorics, complex analysis, probability theory, and other areas. There will be pictures and there will be mad, mad limits.
Location: Gibson Hall 126A
Time: 4:00
Wednesday, March 20
Topic: Universality, random matrices, and data science through the lens of high-dimensional scale invariance
Gustavo Didier - Tulane University
Abstract: In this talk, we show how the topic of scale invariance (fractality) in high dimensions naturally brings together some major topics of modern mathematical research such as universality, random matrix theory, high-dimensional probability, data science and machine learning. No prior knowledge of these topics will be assumed.
Location: Gibson Hall 126A
Time: 4:00
Wednesday, April 17
Topic: Rigidity theory and Gaussian graphical models
Daniel I. Bernstein - Tulane University
Abstract: Associated to each graph is something called a Gaussian graphical model. The minimum number of data points required to fit that model (loosely speaking) is called the maximum likelihood threshold of that graph. In this talk, I will show how one can understand the maximum likelihood threshold of a graph by viewing it as a mechanical structure in a high-dimensional space. This talk will be far more mathy and far less statisticsy than the abstract probably makes it seem.
Location: Gibson Hall 126A
Time: 4:00
Wednesday, April 24
Topic: A modular framework for Hurwitz class numbers
Olivia Beckwith - Tulane University
Abstract: In this talk I'll give a brief introduction to modular forms and discuss an analytic method of constructing them, focusing on new examples related to class numbers of binary quadratic forms.
Location: Gibson Hall 126A
Time: 4:00
