Discrete Mathematics Instructional Seminar at SFU

The SFU Discrete Mathematics Instructional Seminar

This series has been continuing (in the same time slot) since it was begun by Dr. Brian Alspach 25 years ago.

Date / Time / Room : Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30, K9509, SFU

This seminar series is distinct from the Discrete Math Seminar.

Fall 2004

We read the preprint ``Nowhere-Zero Flow Polynomials'' by Shmuel Onn.

Presenters:

September 14: M. Ghebleh
September 21: M. Khatirinejad
September 28: T. Mott
October 5: M. Verdian-Rizi

Fall 2003

We were alternating topics each week:

October 14, 28, Nov 18, 25: Applying Character Theory to Difference Sets (Org: J. Jedwab, P. Lisonek) Text: T. Beth, D. Jungnickel, H. Lenz, "Design Theory", 2nd ed., Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge, 1999, plus selected papers.
October 21, Nov 4: Graphs on Surfaces (Org: L. Goddyn). Text: B. Mohar, C. Thomassen, "Graphs on Surfaces", Johns Hopkins U. Press, Baltimore, 2001.

Speakers:

October 14: J. Jedwab
October 21: L. Goddyn
October 28: P. Lisonek
November 4: L. Goddyn
November 18: I. Mercer
November 25: S. Akhtari

Spring 2003

We read parts of the book ``Graph Colouring and the Probabilistic Method'' by M. Molloy and B. Reed (Springer 2002).

Chapter Date Title Presenter

1,2,4 14 Jan Preliminaries
The Lovász Local Lemma Riste Skrekovski

3 21 Jan
28 Jan The First Moment Method Mahdad Khatirinejad Fard

5 28 Jan The Chernoff Bound Riste Skrekovski

6 4 Feb Hadwiger's Conjecture Jan Manuch

3,4,5 11 Feb Review of Part II and
Open problems Reza Naserasr

10 04 Mar
11 Mar Talagrand's Inequality Reza Naserasr

11 18 Mar Azuma's Inequality Reza Naserasr

19 1 Apr Generalizations of the Local Lemma Laura Chavez

Fall 2002

We read ``Ten Lectures on the Probabilistic Method, Second Edition'' by Joel Spencer (SIAM 1994).

Lecture Date Title Presenter

1 24 Sep The Probabilistic Method Mahdad Khatirinejad Fard

2 01 Oct The Deletion Method and Other Refinements Jan Manuch

3 08 Oct
15 Oct Random Graphs I Laura Chavez

4 22 Oct Large Deviations and Nonprobabilistic Algorithms Tim Mott

6 29 Oct Chaos from Order Petr Lisonek

7 05 Nov Random Graphs II Riste Skrekovski

8 12 Nov
26 Nov The Lovász Local Lemma Ladislav Stacho

Bonus 03 Dec The Janson Inequalities Ramesh Krishnamurti

Chapter	Date	Title	Presenter

1,2,4	14 Jan	Preliminaries The Lovász Local Lemma	Riste Skrekovski
3	21 Jan 28 Jan	The First Moment Method	Mahdad Khatirinejad Fard
5	28 Jan	The Chernoff Bound	Riste Skrekovski
6	4 Feb	Hadwiger's Conjecture	Jan Manuch
3,4,5	11 Feb	Review of Part II and Open problems	Reza Naserasr
10	04 Mar 11 Mar	Talagrand's Inequality	Reza Naserasr
11	18 Mar	Azuma's Inequality	Reza Naserasr
19	1 Apr	Generalizations of the Local Lemma	Laura Chavez

Lecture	Date	Title	Presenter

1	24 Sep	The Probabilistic Method	Mahdad Khatirinejad Fard
2	01 Oct	The Deletion Method and Other Refinements	Jan Manuch
3	08 Oct 15 Oct	Random Graphs I	Laura Chavez
4	22 Oct	Large Deviations and Nonprobabilistic Algorithms	Tim Mott
6	29 Oct	Chaos from Order	Petr Lisonek
7	05 Nov	Random Graphs II	Riste Skrekovski
8	12 Nov 26 Nov	The Lovász Local Lemma	Ladislav Stacho
Bonus	03 Dec	The Janson Inequalities	Ramesh Krishnamurti