The Syracuse group will carry out a diverse program of studies in both classical and quantum gravity theory. On the classical side, they will analyze properties of solutions to Einstein's equations by canonical methods, by the use of new dynamical variables, and by twistor methods. On the quantum side, they will continue to study the quantization of gravitation using their new tools (loop and connection representations). Other studies will investigate model systems (such as 2 + 1 gravity), cosmological models, the role and meaning of time, and measurement theory. The goal of this work will be to extend classical gravitation theory to the quantum domain, to gain insight on any exact quantum theory of gravity, and to overcome fundamental conceptual issues in this endeavor.
