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Merkin Center for Pure and Applied Mathematics

Past Events

Mathematical Models of Generative Linguistics (Part 2)

  • June 8-9, 2024
  • Organizer: Robert C. Berwick (MIT) and Matilde Marcolli (Caltech)

The workshop is dedicated to discussions between mathematicians and linguists on generative linguistics and especially the Merge model of syntax, syntactic parameters, and computational aspects of Chomsky's Minimalism. Thanks to Caltech Center for Evolutionary Science for support.

SoCal Math Teachers' Circles Leadership Meeting

  • June 8, 2024
  • Organizer: David Crombecque (AIM)

Leaders and organizers of Math Teachers Circles in Southern California share their experiences, goals, successes, and challenges. For new leaders, this event can be an opportunity to learn from the existing circles. This meeting will also facilitate collaboration and coordination between the different circles in the area (exchange of facilitators, activities, a summer immersion MTC).

Inaugural Conference

Registration required: click here

  • April 19-20, 2024, see schedule here
  • Organizers: Jaksa Cvitanic, Sergei Gukov, Denise Lu, Nikolai Makarov, Elena Mantovan

This extraordinary occasion will commemorate the inauguration of the Merkin Center with a series of engaging public lectures and talks tailored for a diverse audience, showcasing the elegance of pure and applied mathematics.

Southern California Probability Symposium

  • April 13, 2024
  • Organizers: Tom Hutchcroft (Caltech), Amber Puha (CSUSM)

The Southern California Probability Symposium (SCPS) is an annual event. Probabilists from Southern California and beyond have been gathering at the SCPS since its inception. For the first time in 50 years, this event is coming to Caltech.

Algebraic Models of Generative Linguistics

  • March 9-10, 2024
  • Organizers: Robert Berwick (MIT), Matilde Marcolli (Caltech)

This meeting brings together theoretical linguists, mathematicians, mathematical physicists, and computational linguists, for informal discussions on algebraic models of the Merge operation in generative linguistics, models of the syntax-semantics interface, and models of semantic spaces, along with the question of their realization in large language models. Thanks to Caltech Center for Evolutionary Science for support.

Mini-workshop: Plumbings, Spectra, and Resurgence

  • March 1-2, 2024
  • Lead organizer: Josef Svoboda (Caltech)

The goal of this informal event is to bring together researchers to discuss and share ideas at the intersection of topology, algebraic geometry, and mathematical physics.

Idea Incubator

A series of recurring events (held on Saturdays, roughly every quarter) that can be best described as "fireside chats" or "corporate retreats," devoted to topics at the interface of geometry, representation theory, and physics.

MAA/MESCal/AIM Assembly

  • January 21, 2024, 2pm - 5pm

This event, hosted by the SoCal-Nevada Section of the MAA, will feature brief addresses, social activities, and a fun mixer with Board and Section Members as well as MESCal members (Math Equity in Southern California).

Machine Learning at the Merkin Center

The Merkin Center is delighted to host two international meetings on Machine Learning:

The Fall Assembly of the Burke Institute

  • November 15, 2023
  • Organizer: Hirosi Ooguri (Caltech)

Idea Incubator

A series of recurring events (held on Saturdays, roughly every quarter) that can be best described as "fireside chats" or "corporate retreats," devoted to topics at the interface of geometry, representation theory, and physics.

  • November 4, 2023: Ron Donagi (University of Pennsylvania) and Tony Pantev (University of Pennsylvania)
  • Organizer: Sergei Gukov (Caltech)

AIM Workshops 

AIM Open House - October 10, 2023

aim open house - updated