CMI-HIMR Summer School on Symmetry and Randomness

Date: 15 - 19 July 2024

Location: University of Bristol

This year’s summer school will focus on the mathematics of symmetry and randomness, where probability theory comes together with analysis, geometry and group theory to help understand highly symmetric structures. 

The mini-courses will present aspects of random walks on infinite graphs and groups in connection with geometric group theory; the mathematics of percolation theory especially on large transitive graphs; as well as spectral and mixing time estimates for finite Markov chains with an emphasis on the cut-off phenomenon, and much more. 

Students will have the opportunity to be introduced to these topics as well as to hear lectures by leading figures in the area.

Short Courses

Tom Hutchcroft (Caltech), Structure vs. expansion: probability on transitive graphs*

Justin Salez (Université Paris-Dauphine), The cutoff phenomenon for finite Markov chains*

Tianyi Zheng (UC San Diego), Random walks on self-similar groups: boundary behaviour and amenability*

*Provisional title

The summer school will also feature guest lectures from Itai Benjamini (Weizmann Institute of Science), Persi Diaconis (Stanford) and Geoffrey Grimmett (Cambridge).

Registration closes on Friday 15 March 2024

This event will be taking place in-person. Accommodation, lunch and subsistence will be provided, while participants are expected to fund their own travel (limited funds may be available for those unable to secure travel costs from their home institution).