North American set theory workshop

North American set theory workshop
Name	North American set theory workshop
Genre	Academic conference
Discipline	Mathematics
Focus	Set theory
Founded	1982
Frequency	Annual
Country	United States
Participants	Researchers, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows

North American set theory workshop is an annual meeting dedicated to research in set theory and related areas of mathematical logic, bringing together researchers from across North America and abroad. The workshop emphasizes informal collaboration, rapid dissemination of results, and mentoring of early-career mathematicians, attracting attendees from institutions such as Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Toronto, University of Michigan, and Harvard University. Over decades it has become a key venue alongside conferences like the Joint Mathematics Meetings and workshops at the Institute for Advanced Study for developments related to the Continuum hypothesis, Large cardinal axiom, and techniques originating in forcing, Descriptive set theory, and Inner model theory.

History

The workshop traces roots to informal gatherings in the early 1980s when researchers influenced by work at Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, University of Chicago, and Rutgers University sought a regional forum distinct from larger venues such as the American Mathematical Society meetings. Founding participants included figures associated with breakthroughs at MIT, University of California, Los Angeles, and Carnegie Mellon University who had collaborated on projects connected to forcing, Martin's axiom, and Large cardinal axiom research programs. Through the 1990s and 2000s the workshop expanded, reflecting interactions with researchers from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, IHES, and institutions linked to the development of Descriptive set theory, determinacy, and Proper forcing. Milestones include sessions highlighting results related to the Continuum hypothesis, collaborations spawning work at MSRI and Fields Institute, and thematic meetings coinciding with prize announcements such as the Sacks Prize and awards given by the American Mathematical Society.

Organization and governance

Governance has often been informal, coordinated by a rotating committee of researchers from universities and institutes including University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, University of Toronto, Princeton University, and Rutgers University. Committees liaise with departmental hosts and funding bodies such as the National Science Foundation and mathematical institutes like Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and Fields Institute to organize logistics. Steering committees typically include senior faculty with ties to Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and specialized program organizers with connections to research networks centered at Institute for Advanced Study and ETH Zurich. Organizational tasks include solicitation of abstracts, coordination with local departments (for instance University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or McGill University hosts), and arrangements for graduate student travel support linked to fellowships from foundations and societies like the Canadian Mathematical Society and American Mathematical Society.

Meetings and locations

Meetings rotate among universities and research centers across United States, Canada, and occasionally Mexico, with past venues including Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, University of Toronto, McGill University, Rutgers University, University of Notre Dame, University of British Columbia, and Cornell University. Satellite events have been held in conjunction with programs at Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, Fields Institute, Institute for Advanced Study, CUNY Graduate Center, and symposiums hosted by departments at Stanford University and Yale University. The rotating model mirrors practices at the European Set Theory Society meetings and has allowed integration with regional workshops at Banff International Research Station and shorter programs at Oberwolfach and IHES when scheduling permitted.

Program and format

Programs typically include invited talks, contributed presentations, problem sessions, open problem lists, and poster sessions, emphasizing interaction akin to seminars at Institute for Advanced Study and working groups at Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. Topics range from forcing and Proper forcing to Inner model theory, Large cardinal axiom hierarchy, Descriptive set theory, determinacy, Combinatorial set theory, and applications affecting results in topology and Measure theory. Sessions often feature talks by researchers affiliated with Princeton University, Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Toronto, and invited speakers from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and ETH Zurich. The format fosters rapid feedback, collaborative problem sessions reminiscent of working groups at MSRI, and mentorship structures involving graduate students and postdoctoral fellows supported by awards like the Sacks Prize and fellowships from the National Science Foundation.

Notable participants and contributions

The workshop has hosted many prominent set theorists from institutions such as Princeton University, Harvard University, MIT, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Michigan. Contributions presented at meetings have influenced major developments tied to forcing techniques, advances in Inner model theory related to Large cardinal axioms, and results in Descriptive set theory and determinacy that intersect work by researchers at Institute for Advanced Study, MSRI, and IHES. Talks have anticipated or disseminated results later published in journals affiliated with the American Mathematical Society and collaborations that produced breakthroughs connected to the Continuum hypothesis, applications in Set-theoretic topology, and novel combinatorial principles explored at venues including Oberwolfach and the Fields Institute.

Influence and collaborations

The workshop has been central to collaborative networks linking departments like Princeton University, Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Toronto, and research centers including Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and Institute for Advanced Study. It has facilitated joint projects with the European Set Theory Society, cooperative programs at Fields Institute, and exchange visits to research institutes such as IHES and Oberwolfach. The workshop’s culture of rapid exchange and problem-driven sessions has influenced curricular initiatives at universities including MIT and University of Michigan and has shaped research agendas supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and national societies such as the American Mathematical Society and Canadian Mathematical Society.

Category:Mathematical conferences