This workshop will be offered virtually. The in-person meeting has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. A schedule for virtual talks will be posted soon. Accepted participants will be notified how to access the virtual presentations.
Organizing Committee
Abstract

Real algebraic (and semi-algebraic) geometry studies subsets of R^n defined by a finite number of polynomial equalities and inequalities. Such sets occur ubiquitously in practice both inside and outside of mathematics. While being easy to define, semi-algebraic sets can be complicated topologically, which restricts the application of many algorithms. In recent years, there has been progress in proving much stronger results – both quantitative and algorithmic -- when the problem under consideration involves the invariance under some group action.

In this workshop, we plan to focus on two situations where this phenomenon happens.

The first one is the statistical study of the topology of random real algebraic varieties as well as semi-algebraic sets, where the polynomials defining these objects are picked from a distribution invariant under the action of a certain group (usually the orthogonal group) acting on the space of variables. The behavior of the set of zeros (or more generally level sets) of such random polynomial systems is an extremely active topic with deep connections with classical enumerative problems in algebraic geometry (over real as well as complex fields), theoretical computer science, statistical physics, and machine learning.

The second one is the deterministic behavior of the topology of semi-algebraic sets admitting a group action (say a finite reflection group or a Lie group). The cohomology modules of such symmetric semi-algebraic sets then acquire the structure of a finite-dimensional representation of the corresponding group. This added structure is extremely useful in studying the topology as well as developing algorithms for computing topological invariants of such sets. The study of symmetric semi-algebraic sets has promising connections with several other areas, including representational and homological stability, sums-of-squares proofs and lower-bound questions in theoretical computer science.

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Confirmed Speakers & Participants

  • Speaker
  • Poster Presenter
  • Attendee
  • Virtual Attendee

Workshop Schedule

Monday, August 24, 2020
TimeEventLocationMaterials
8:00 - 8:10am EDTWelcome - ICERM Director  
8:10 - 8:55am EDTRigid Continuation Paths II- Structured Polynomial Systems - Peter Burgisser, TU Berlin 
9:10 - 9:55am EDTInflation of poorly conditioned zeros of systems of analytic functions - Anton Leykin, Georgia Tech 
10:00 - 10:45am EDTCoffee/ Tea Break  
10:45 - 11:30am EDTA Survey of random Real Algebraic Geometry - Erik Lundberg, Florida Atlantic University 
11:45 - 1:00pm EDTBreak for Lunch/ Free Time  
1:00 - 1:45pm EDTSparse Interpolation in Terms of Multivariate Chebyshev Polynomials Associated to a Weyl group - Evelyne Hubert, Inria, Méditerranée 
2:00 - 2:45pm EDTAlgebraic Methods for Tensor Data - Harm Derksen, Northeastern University 
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
TimeEventLocationMaterials
8:00 - 8:45am EDTTropicalization in Real Algebraic Geometry and Extremal Combinatorics - Greg Blekherman, Georgia Tech 
9:00 - 9:45am EDTSpectral sets and derivatives of the psd cone - Mario Kummer, TU Berlin 
10:00 - 11:00am EDTPanel discussion on racism and diversity issues  
11:00 - 11:45am EDTQuantitative Singularity theory for Random Polynomials - Paul Breiding, Technische Universität Berlin 
12:00 - 1:00pm EDTBreak for Lunch/ Free Time  
1:00 - 2:00pm EDTShelling face posets for stratified spaces of electrical networks and of phylogenetic trees - Patricia Hersh, University of Oregon  
2:00 - 3:00pm EDTDiscussion Time  
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
TimeEventLocationMaterials
9:00 - 9:45am EDTMLE for tensor normal models - Visu Makam, Institute for Advanced Study 
10:00 - 11:00am EDTGrad Students' Presentations - Margaret Regan, Duke University; Alison Rosenblum, Purdue University; Isabelle Shankar, UC, Berkeley; Kevin Shu, Georgia Institute of Technology; & Miruna-Stefana Sorea, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Leipzig  
11:00 - 11:45am EDTMaximal and Typical Topology of Real Polynomial Singularities - Michele Stecconi, SISSA 
12:00 - 1:00pm EDTBreak for Lunch/ Free Time  
1:00 - 1:45pm EDTSequences of Symmetric Ideals - Uwe Nagel, University of Kentucky 
2:00 - 3:00pm EDTReal Smooth Points - Agnes Szanto, North Carolina State University 
Thursday, August 27, 2020
TimeEventLocationMaterials
9:00 - 9:45am EDTOn algebraic and geometric properties of spectral convex bodies - Raman Sanyal, Goethe University Frankfurt 
10:00 - 11:00am EDTCoffee/ Tea Break  
11:00 - 11:45am EDTBetti Numbers of Random Hypersurface Arrangements - Abhiram Natarajan, University of Colorado- Boulder 
12:00 - 1:00pm EDTBreak for Lunch/ Free Time  
1:00 - 1:45pm EDTThe p-adic integral geometry formula - Avinash Kulkarni, Dartmouth College 
2:00 - 2:45pm EDTLimit cycles in random polynomial vector fields - Erik Lundberg, Florida Atlantic University 
Friday, August 28, 2020
TimeEventLocationMaterials
9:00 - 9:45am EDTThe Sum-of-Squares Approach to Disentangling Non-Spherical Gaussian Mixtures - Pravesh K. Kothari, Carnegie Mellon University 
10:00 - 11:00am EDTMentoring Session  
11:00 - 11:45am EDTReal lines on random cubic surfaces - Chiara Meroni, Sissa 
12:00 - 1:00pm EDTBreak for Lunch/ Free Time  
1:00 - 1:45pm EDTThe Fourier transform of a polytope, and its zero set - Sinai Robins, University of São Paulo 
2:00 - 2:45pm EDTExpected distances on special flag manifolds and lens spaces - Chris Peterson, Colorado State University 

Request Reimbursement

ORCID iD
As this program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), ICERM is required to collect your ORCID iD if you are receiving funding to attend this program. Be sure to add your ORCID iD to your Cube profile as soon as possible to avoid delaying your reimbursement.
Acceptable Costs
  • 1 roundtrip between your home institute and ICERM
  • Flights on U.S. or E.U. airlines – economy class to either Providence airport (PVD) or Boston airport (BOS)
  • Ground Transportation to and from airports and ICERM.
Unacceptable Costs
  • Flights on non-U.S. or non-E.U. airlines
  • Flights on U.K. airlines
  • Seats in economy plus, business class, or first class
  • Change ticket fees of any kind
  • Multi-use bus passes
  • Meals or incidentals
Advance Approval Required
  • Personal car travel to ICERM from outside New England
  • Multiple-destination plane ticket; does not include layovers to reach ICERM
  • Arriving or departing from ICERM more than a day before or day after the program
  • Multiple trips to ICERM
  • Rental car to/from ICERM
  • Flights on a Swiss, Japanese, or Australian airlines
  • Arriving or departing from airport other than PVD/BOS or home institution's local airport
  • 2 one-way plane tickets to create a roundtrip (often purchased from Expedia, Orbitz, etc.)
Reimbursement Request Form

https://icerm.brown.edu/money/

Refer to the back of your ID badge for more information. Checklists are available at the front desk.

Reimbursement Tips
  • Scanned original receipts are required for all expenses
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Reimbursement Timing

6 - 8 weeks after all documentation is sent to ICERM. All reimbursement requests are reviewed by numerous central offices at Brown who may request additional documentation.

Reimbursement Deadline

Submissions must be received within 30 days of ICERM departure to avoid applicable taxes. Submissions after thirty days will incur applicable taxes. No submissions are accepted more than six months after the program end.

Lecture Videos

Expected distances on special flag manifolds and lens spaces

Chris Peterson
Colorado State University
August 28, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

The Fourier transform of a polytope, and its zero set

Sinai Robins
University of Sao Paulo
August 28, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Real lines on random cubic surfaces

Chiara Meroni
SISSA
August 28, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

The Sum-of-Squares Approach to Disentangling Non-Spherical Gaussian Mixtures

Pravesh Kothari
Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University
August 28, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Limit cycles in random polynomial vector fields

Erik Lundberg
Florida Atlantic University
August 27, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

The p-adic integral geometry formula

Avinash Kulkarni
Dartmouth College
August 27, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Betti Numbers of Random Hypersurface Arrangements

Abhiram Natarajan
Purdue University
August 27, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

On algebraic and geometric properties of spectral convex bodies

Raman Sanyal
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
August 27, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Real Smooth Points

Agnes Szanto
North Carolina State University
August 26, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Sequences of Symmetric Ideals

Uwe Nagel
University of Kentucky
August 26, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

MLE for tensor normal models

Viswambhara Makam
Institute for Advanced Study
August 26, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Shelling face posets for stratified spaces of electrical networks and of phylogenetic trees

Patricia Hersh
University of Oregon
August 25, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Spectral sets and derivatives of the psd cone

Mario Kummer
TU Berlin
August 25, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Tropicalization in Real Algebraic Geometry and Extremal Combinatorics

Greg Blekherman
Georgia Tech
August 25, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Algebraic Methods for Tensor Data

Harm Derksen
University of Michigan
August 24, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Sparse Interpolation in Terms of Multivariate Chebyshev Polynomials Associated to a Weyl group

Evelyne Hubert
Inria
August 24, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

A Survey of random Real Algebraic Geometry

Erik Lundberg
Florida Atlantic University
August 24, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Inflation of poorly conditioned zeros of systems of analytic functions

Anton Leykin
Georgia Tech
August 24, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play

Rigid Continuation Paths II- Structured Polynomial Systems

Peter Burgisser
Technical University Berlin
August 24, 2020
ONLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY: Symmetry, Randomness, and Computations in Real...
Play