Annualreport 2010 2011
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C CENTRE R DERECHERCHES M MATHÉMATIQUES AnnualReport 2010 2011 . i C ii C CENTRE R DERECHERCHES M MATHÉMATIQUES AnnualReport 2010 2011 . iii Centre de recherches mathématiques Université de Montréal C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville Montréal, QC H3C 3J7 Canada [email protected] Also available on the CRM website http://crm.math.ca/docs/docRap_an.shtml. © Centre de recherches mathématiques Université de Montréal, 2012 ISBN 978-2-921120-49-4 C Presenting the Annual Report 2010 – 2011 1 ematic Program 4 ematic Programs of the Year 2010 – 2011: “Geometric, Combinatorial and Computational Group e- ory” and “Statistics” ............................................ 5 Aisenstadt Chairholders in 2010 – 2011: Yuri Gurevich, Angus Macintyre, Alexander Razborov, and James Robins ................................................ 6 Activities of the ematic Semesters ...................................... 9 Past ematic Programs ............................................. 21 General Program 23 CRM activities .................................................. 24 Colloquium Series ................................................ 36 Multidisciplinary and Industrial Program 39 Activities of the Climate Change and Sustainability Program ........................ 40 Activities of the Multidisciplinary and Industrial Program .......................... 41 CRM Prizes 47 CRM – Fields – PIMS Prize 2011 Awarded to Mark Lewis ........................... 48 André-Aisenstadt Prize 2011 Awarded to Joel Kamnitzer ........................... 48 CAP – CRM Prize 2011 Awarded to Robert Brandenberger .......................... 49 CRM – SSC Prize 2011 Awarded to Edward Susko ............................... 50 e CRM Outreach Program 51 When the Earth Was Too Young for Darwin — Cédric Villani ......................... 52 MSI: Anatomy of Integers and Permutations — Andrew Granville ...................... 53 Mathematics that Swings: e Math behind Golf — Doug Arnold ...................... 55 CRM Partnerships 57 CRM Partners .................................................. 58 Joint Initiatives .................................................. 61 Mathematical Education 62 Institut des sciences mathématiques (ISM) ................................... 63 Other Joint Initiatives .............................................. 66 Research Laboratories 68 Applied Mathematics .............................................. 69 CICMA ...................................................... 71 CIRGET ...................................................... 72 GIREF ....................................................... 74 INTRIQ ...................................................... 76 LaCIM ....................................................... 78 Mathematical Analysis ............................................. 81 Mathematical Physics .............................................. 83 PhysNum ..................................................... 86 Statistics ..................................................... 88 Publications 92 Recent Titles ................................................... 93 Previous Titles .................................................. 93 iii C Scientific Personnel 98 CRM Members in 2010 – 2011 .......................................... 99 Postdoctoral Fellows ............................................... 101 Visitors ...................................................... 101 List of Students Having Graduated in 2010 – 2011 103 Ph.D. Students .................................................. 104 M.Sc. Students .................................................. 105 Governance and Scientific Guidance 109 Board of Directors ................................................ 110 International Scientific Advisory Commiee ................................. 110 CRM Administrative and Support Staff 114 e Director’s Office ............................................... 115 Administration .................................................. 115 Scientific Activities ............................................... 115 Computer Services ................................................ 115 Publications ................................................... 115 Communications ................................................. 115 Mandate of the CRM 116 iv Presenting the Annual Report 2010 – 2011 C 2010 – 2011 two thematic semesters were orga- methodology, surfaces and representation theory, evo- I nized by the CRM. e first one was devoted to lutionary games, and discrete and algorithmic math- Geometric, Combinatorial and Computational Group ematics. e CRM awards four prizes, either on its eory and organized by Olga Kharlampovich (McGill own or in collaboration with other institutes or profes- University), Alexei Miasnikov (Stevens Institute of sional associations. In 2011 the CRM – Fields – PIMS Technology), and their colleagues (Benson Farb, Uni- Prize (the most prestigious Canadian mathematical versity of Chicago; Luis Ribes, Carleton University; prize) was awarded to Mark Lewis (University of Al- Mark Sapir, Vanderbilt University; and Efim Zel- berta). Joel Kamnitzer (University of Toronto) was the manov, University of California, San Diego). is recipient of the André-Aisenstadt Prize, awarded by semester featured five workshops, lectures at the lead- the CRM International Scientific Advisory Commiee ing edge, and series of Aisenstadt lectures; those events to a young Canadian mathematician. Edward Susko took place between August and October 2010. Of (Dalhousie University) was the recipient of the CRM – course group theory is a field of pure mathematics, SSC Prize, awarded by a joint commiee of the CRM but one of the goals of the semester was to demon- and the Statistical Society of Canada. Finally Robert strate and stimulate the new links between this field Brandenberger (McGill University) was the recipient and other areas of pure and applied mathematics, in- of the CAP – CRM Prize on eoretical and Mathemat- cluding applications to complexity theory and cryp- ical Physics, awarded by a joint commiee of the CRM tography (and thus computer science). e Aisenstadt and the Canadian Association of Physicists. Chairs for the group theory semester were Yuri Gure- In 2010 – 2011 the Grandes Conférences program con- vich (Microso Research), Angus MacIntyre (een tinued to enjoy a large success. e three lec- Mary, University of London), and Alexander Razborov tures were given respectively by Cédric Villani (Fields (University of Chicago). medallist and director of the Institut Henri-Poincaré), e second thematic semester of the year 2010-2011 Doug Arnold (University of Minnesota), and Andrew was devoted to statistics and organized by a commit- Granville (Université de Montréal). e CRM is proud tee including 15 researchers (11 researchers working to have extended financial support to 45 postdoctoral in Canadian universities and 4 in other public institu- fellows (all from outside ébec) in 2010 – 2011. is tions, including the Canadian Forest Service, the In- support demonstrates the scientific reach of the CRM stitut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, and the and its aractiveness for young researchers from all Hydro-ébec Research Institute). e semester on over the world. Note that the CRM does not award statistics featured 7 workshops, covering theoretical postdoctoral fellowships to Ph.D. students completing topics (causal inference, analysis of survival and event their studies in ébec universities; indeed all those history data, copula models and dependence) as well as universities are affiliated with the CRM and the goal methods applied to varied fields (meteorology, health, of the postdoctoral fellowship program is to offer di- genomics, and forest management). Two of the work- verse training experiences. Our Ph.D. students are of- shops (those on meteorology and forest management, fered fellowships in foreign countries and Ph.D. stu- respectively) were included in the Climate Change and dents from abroad apply for fellowships at the CRM. Sustainability Program, which also featured a course Each year 200 to 300 top-level students from all parts on viability theory by Professor Jean-Pierre Aubin of the world apply for postdoctoral fellowships at the (Université Paris-Dauphine) and a workshop on de- CRM. All professors at the large ébec universities cision analysis and sustainable development (a joint may look at the applications and take part in the fi- CRM – GERAD – MITACS workshop). e Aisenstadt nancing of a fellowship. Chair for the statistics semester was Professor James To conclude I would like to mention that in 2010 – 2011, Robins, from the Harvard School of Public Health. the CRM welcomed 2,133 researchers from all parts In 2010 – 2011 the CRM general program contributed of the world, including 55% of Canadian researchers. even more than usual to the financing of its labora- e CRM activities are numerous and varied and they tories activities, which covered topics such as num- demonstrate that the CRM plays a central role in the ber theory, cosmology, quantum cryptography, pro- advancement of science, be it in ébec, Canada, or gram construction, signal processing, bifurcation anal- the world. I also wish to thank the institutions that ysis, generation of combinatorial objects, statistical support the CRM, especially NSERC (Government of 2 P A R 2010 – 2011 Canada), FQRNT (Government of ébec), the NSF (Unites States), the MITACS network, and the part- ner universities: first the Université de Montréal, then UQAM, Concordia University, McGill University, Uni- versité Laval,