The PIMS Undergraduate Workshop in Supersymmetry will be held at the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences at the University of British Columbia, on May 25-31, 2014. In physics, supersymmetry is a pairing between bosons and fermions appearing in theories of subatomic particles. One may study supersymmetry mathematically by using adinkra symbols, which are graphs with vertices representing the particles in a supersymmetric theory and edges corresponding to the supersymmetry pairings. The workshop will combine lectures on the mathematics of supersymmetry, emphasizing graph theory and algebraic structures, with problem-solving sessions. Sylvester James Gates of the University of Maryland, recipient of the National Medal of Science, will be the keynote speaker. The workshop's website is https://people.uwec.edu/whitchua/supersymmetry/
The workshop will have direct impact on undergraduate education, by introducing students to a thriving area of research outside the standard curriculum. Students will gain tools to choose and evaluate a graduate program and valuable skills in using computer algebra systems for mathematical experimentation. The speakers and problem session leaders will build a community of mathematicians interested in undergraduate research in supersymmetry; they will use this experience to enhance the undergraduate research program at their home institutions. This award defrays travel costs for eleven US-based undergraduate students participating in the workshop.
The PIMS Undergraduate Workshop in Supersymmetry was held at the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences at the University of British Columbia, on May 25-31, 2014. The workshop introduced a group of nineteen outstanding undergraduate students to current research in mathematical physics, and fostered a community of mathematicians and physicists interested in promoting interdisciplinary undergraduate research. In physics, supersymmetry is a pairing between bosons and fermions appearing in theories of subatomic particles. One may study supersymmetry mathematically by using Adinkras, which are graphs with vertices representing the particles in a supersymmetric theory and edges corresponding to the supersymmetry pairings. The workshop combined lectures on the mathematics of supersymmetry, emphasizing graph theory and algebraic structures, with problem-solving sessions. S. Jim Gates (Physics, University of Maryland) and Stefan Mendez-Diez (Mathematics, University of Alberta) taught a mini-course on the physics of supersymmetry. Kevin Iga (Mathematics, Pepperdine) taught a mini-course on the mathematics of supersymmetry. Charles Doran (Mathematics, University of Alberta) presented on supersymmetry and Riemann surfaces. S. Jim Gates also gave a public lecture, "From the Adinkras of Supersymmetry to the Music of Arnold Schoenberg". In addition to learning about supersymmetry, participants gained professional skills and connections. Ursula Whitcher (Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) gave technical presentations on the Sage computer algebra system and creating posters in LaTeX. Dagan Karp (Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College) moderated a panel on applying to and navigating graduate school in the U.S. and Canada.
