Workshop on Algebraic Design Theory and Hadamard Matrices (ADTHM) 2014 In honor of the 70-th birthday of Hadi Kharaghani

Place and Date | Sponsors | Invited Speakers | Description | Dedication | Organizers | Proceedings Volume | Program | Conference package: abstracts and schedule| Followup BIRS Workshop | Student Participation and Posters | Financial Support | Travel | Accommodation | Restaurant list | Tourist Info | Registration | Contacts | Participants and Group Photos| Graphics

Invited speakers

• Victor Alvarez, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
• Jose Armario, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
• Charlie Colbourn, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
• Robert Craigen, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Dean Crnkovic, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
• Dragomir Djokovic, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
• Dane Flannery, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
• Stelios Georgiou, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
• Jonathan Jedwab, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C.
• Ilias Kotsireas, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario
• William Martin, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts
• Mate Matolcsi, Rényi Institute, Budapest, Hungary
• Akihiro Munemasa, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
• William Orrick, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
• Asha Rao, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
• Jennifer Seberry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
• Bernhard Schmidt, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Doug Stinson, University of Waterloo, Ontario
• Sho Suda, Aichi University of Education, Kariya, Aichi, Japan
• Ferenc Szöllősi, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
• Behruz Tayfeh-Rezaie, Institute for Fundamental Research, Tehran, Iran
• Vladimir Tonchev, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan
• Ian Wanless, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
• Mieko Yamada, Tokyo Woman's Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
• Karol Zyczkowski, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland

Description

The 2014 (ADTHM) will be held at the University of Lethbridge in room C640 on Tuesday July 8 - noon Friday July 11, 2014. The purpose of the workshop is to bring together researchers and students interested in algebraic design theory, especially as it relates to Hadamard matrices and their applications, as well as in related areas in coding theory, association schemes, quantum information theory, theoretical physics and computer security. The audiences would learn about the latest developments in these areas, discuss the latest findings, take stock of what remains to be done on classical problems and explore different visions for setting the direction for future work.

We aim to ensure many of the talks are graduate student friendly, since it is very important to foster the growth of young mathematicians. This conference will allow experienced combinatorists to pass on their knowledge and skills in their craft to a younger generation. There will be some expository talks, in addition to research talks related to the latest developments.

In addition to the invited talks, participants are encouraged to contribute a talk (length of the presentation to be determined). Please submit the title and abstract for your talk by June 15, 2014. Alternately or additionally, we would be very pleased if participants would contribute posters. The meeting fee will be $50 in cash to be collected at the meeting. This fee is waived for the invited speakers, students and postdoctoral fellows. All participants are strongly encouraged to complete the registration form below once it becomes available.

Dedication

In 1985, he published a very useful method for constructing some orthogonal matrices, subsequently named Kharaghani matrices. In 1991, he gave the first infinite sequence of Hadamard matrices with maximum excess. In 2000, he constructed one of the largest classes of designs using Kharaghani matrices, introduced twin designs for the first time and developed a new method to generate arrays for orthogonal designs.

Hadi and colleague Behruz Tayfeh-Rezaie discovered a Hadamard matrix of order 428 in 2004 (see image below); the order had been for a long while the smallest order for which no Hadamard matrix was known.

Hadi is the author or co-author of more than 85 papers published in refereed journals and four book chapters or sections. He is a Foundation Fellow of the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications and has been named to the editorial board of the Journal of Combinatorial Designs. Hadi has also organized workshops, conferences and seminars (although this time he has had fade into the background a bit) that have promoted research in combinatorics and increased the University of Lethbridge's profile and reputation.

He has won the top research award and the top teaching award at the University. Lastly at an age when many consider retirement, he has taken on the ultimate challenge - administration - by serving as Chair of the largest department at the university! His six year sentence ends in a few years. ;-)

See also the graphic (his decomposition of a complete graph) at the bottom of this page.

Hadimard matrix of order 428 Click to enlarge! Entries as text here!

Organizers

• Amir Akbary, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
• K. T. Arasu, Wright State University, Fairborn, Ohio
• Yuqing Chen, Wright State University, Fairborn, Ohio
• Charlie Colbourn, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
• Robert Craigen, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Wolf Holzmann, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
• Vladimir Tonchev, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan

• Amir Akbary
• Wolf Holzmann

Program

Due to the number of talks and the compressed time frame because of the immediately following Banff meeting the length of time for talks has been shortened somewhat: Plenary talks will be 50 minutes, invited 40 and contributed 20 including time for questions.

Travel

• fly to Lethbridge, or
• fly to Calgary and take a shuttle such as the Red Arrow from the Calgary airport to the University of Lethbridge or downtown, or
• fly to Calgary and drive for 2.5 hours, taking Highway 2 south to Ft. Macleod and then Highway 3 east from there, or
• fly to Great Falls and drive for 3.5 hours, taking the highway north (I-15) which becomes Highway 4 in Canada. Clearing the border can take time.

The closest parking for participants is available in Lot K just uphill from the north entrance of University Hall. To get there turn onto campus at the major intersection (4 ways with traffic lights NOT the tee intersection) and follow the road eastward until it veers right - lot K is an immediate left turn. On weekends parking is free. If you wish to park on campus weekdays before or after the workshop for longer than an hour we recommend Lot N where the rate is $6/day. See campus map.

The sessions are in the long main building (University Hall - pale yellow on the campus map) which is nestled in the coulees to the east near the river, down from the level of the prairies.

Accommodation

The University of Lethbridge Conference Services offers very good rates on excellent apartment and town house suites situated on the campus and only minutes from the meeting facilities. The apartment suites have full kitchens as well as ensuite washroom facilities configured in a two or four bedroom configuration. For details including photos of the suites and pricing see Conference Services Summer Hotel. To reach the suites, head south on University Drive past the main entrance and intersection to campus, instead turning left at the next light. About a block and a half in look for a sign to your right for the University Hotel/Residence and check in at the Mount Blakiston building.

For off-campus accommodation, University visitors frequently stay at Lethbridge Lodge. This hotel is located downtown, a five minute drive from the University, or about a 30 minute walk from the University through parkland along the river. There are no hotels in West Lethbridge or closer to the University, however, there are many other hotels and motels available, such as in the Days Inn or the Holiday Inn Express downtown. To check out alternatives visit alternate accommodation. Hotels along Mayor Magrath Drive are relatively far away and you would require vehicle transportation to get to the University. Public transit is available to and from the University, but service is limited on weekends especially on Sunday.

Tourist Information

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just outside of Fort Macleod 30 minutes west of Lethbridge is also highly recommended.

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park about an hour and a half south-east of Lethbridge has petroglyphs and pictographs, and some impressive the sandstone hoodoos.

Glacier National Park is just an hour and a half south-west of Lethbridge, for those willing to brave the surly American border officials. Going-to-the-Sun Road in the park is one of the most scenic roads in the U.S. North-West but it is only open from late May to early September (consider the free park shuttle available from the visitor center at the east park entrance).

In Lethbridge, the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens are a top attraction, as well as, Indian Battle Park and Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Centre in the river valley down from the University.

At the time of the conference, Calgary holds its world famous rodeo Calgary Stampede from July 4 to 13, 2014. Although accommodation in Calgary may be more limited at that time, workshop participants should consider spending a day before or after the conference to take in the activities. Those attending the BIRS workshop would have to schedule it before July 8 instead of after July 11.

Registration

To register, or update or cancel your registration we used this form:

      REGISTER  

Note that registration is closed and the form is here just for the record.

Speakers may use the same form to provide title and abstract for their talks. The registration fee for the meeting will be $50.00 in cash collected at the meeting. The fee is waived for invited speakers, post-docs, and graduate students. Refreshments, breakfast and lunch will be provided by the workshop.

Note for those giving a talk: Due to the number of talks and the compressed time frame because of the immediately following Banff meeting the length of time for talks has been shortened somewhat: Plenary talks will be 50 minutes, invited 40 and contributed 20 including time for questions.

Contacts

  ADTHM (Workshop on Algebraic Design Theory and Hadamard Matrices) 2014,
  Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science,
  University of Lethbridge,
  Lethbridge, Alberta   T1K 3M4
  CANADA

  FAX:            (403) 317-2882

http://www.cs.uleth.ca/ADTHM

Graphics

Kharaghani's decomposition of K40 into 4 Siamese SRG

Last update:
2014 July 18