Discrete Probability (10frg155)

The "Discrete Probability" workshop will be hosted at The Banff International Research Station.

Discrete probability is a booming field at the intersection of statistical physics and the theory of computing. Recent progress and new applications for randomized algorithms, probabilistic combinatorics, and discrete physical models have attracted major talent from several communities; and there is still enormous scope for applying powerful methods from these areas to the many unsolved problems.rn rnThe meeting will focus on topics in geometric probability and probabilistic number theory. Probabilistic models on geometric structures arise naturally in a broad range of applications in physics, biology, and information technology. Such models can exhibit astonishing phenomena such as phase transitions and self-organization, despite the simplicity of the underlying mechanisms. Number theory is a cornerstone of modern cryptography, and many of the algorithms currently in use are randomized. However, the rigorous analysis of such randomized algorithms is in its infancy. This meeting will address some of the many questions that arise in these two areas.rn

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí255a (CONACYT).