2024 Increasing Diversity in the Mathematical Sciences

Objectives: 

The mathematical institutes in Canada have joined forces to offer annual summer schools geared toward women and underrepresented groups in mathematics and related sciences. The first school will be at Dalhousie University in Summer 2024.

The goals of the summer school are two-fold. First, to introduce students to research level mathematics and second, to encourage more female and female-identifying students to pursue graduate school in the mathematical sciences. The research theme of the 2024 summer school will be Combinatorial Commutative Algebra, as described below. By introducing the advanced mathematics in a supportive and engaging environment, we aim to give students the tools and the support structure that will enable them to thrive in graduate school.

Synopsis: 

The main tools to study zero sets of polynomials using algebraic tools come from Commutative Algebra. When the polynomials have only one term - monomials - one can use methods from combinatorics, topology, linear programing and more to study their algebraic properties. The development of such techniques, going back to the 1960's and still a vibrant area of research today, is the focus of the field of Combinatorial Commutative Algebra.

Our school will introduce some of these ideas to the participants via concrete examples and problems. We will cover topics including: edge ideals of graphs, Hilbert functions, computational commutative algebra and discrete homotopy theory.

The school will also include panels, discussions of graduate school, academic and nonacademic jobs and issues facing women in mathematics in general. We will have morning lectures, afternoon tutorials and mini-topics.

We are seeking applications from female and female-identifying students who have finished at least two years of an undergraduate degree in the mathematical sciences.

Required background: Applicants having successfully completed a Honour's-level proof-based course in linear algebra will be given full consideration. A third-year course in algebra covering rings and ideals will be considered an asset.

Applicants should submit transcripts, and arrange for a letter of recommendation addressing their potential to benefit from this school.

Funding: 

We will cover room and board as well as travel expenses for all participants.