Principal Investigator: Lex G. Oversteegen, Alexander M. Blokh, John C. Mayer
The Department of Mathematics of the University of Alabama at Birmingham proposes to host the Spring Topology and Dynamical Systems Conference (STDC), March 25-27, 2004. The STDC encompasses most of the areas of topology and of topological approaches to dynamical systems. We expect the conference to attract over 200 participants, nationally and internationally. The intellectual merit of the proposed activity lies in the broad and deep interaction among the participants. To ensure strong and balanced representation in each of the areas central to the conference, we propose to have four special sessions running in parallel: Continuum Theory, Dynamical Systems, General and Set-Theoretic Topology, and Geometric Topology. To promote unity and interaction, there will be 12 invited talks of 25-minutes in two parallel sessions, and 7 plenary talks of 50 minutes. Ample opportunities for formal and informal interaction among participants will be provided. This will include a session devoted to the state of the arts in the conference areas, current fruitful directions, and new opportunities.
The STDC conference brings together mathematicians and mathematics students working in two core areas of mathematics: topology and dynamical systems. The broader impact of the proposed activity lies in the advancement of knowledge, including education of students, through communication of recent results in these two core areas. We expect that many of the invited talks will emphasize interaction of the research agendas of the central conference areas. Successful conferences in core areas are an important part of mathematical infrastructure, supporting research, training new mathematicians, and developing a foundation for applications in related fields of mathematics and science. Every effort will be made to provide for the substantial participation of under-represented groups, graduate students, and active researchers in these areas.