Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics

Date:
Mar
16
2026

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

Probabilistic Guarantees to Explicit Constructions: Local Properties of Linear Codes
Nikhil Shagrithaya
11:00am|Simonyi Hall 101 and Remote Access

We present a general framework for derandomizing random linear codes with respect to a broad class of properties, known as local properties, which encompass several standard notions such as minimum distance, list-decoding, list-recovery, and perfect...

Mar
17
2026

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar II

Reverse Mathematics of Complexity Lower Bounds, Part II
10:30am|Simonyi 101 and Remote Access

Why is it so hard to prove P != NP, or even to prove super-linear circuit lower bounds? While we often blame a lack of combinatorial ingenuity, the bottleneck might be more fundamental: the logical strength of our mathematical tools.

This series of...

Mar
23
2026

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

Extended VC-dimension and Radon Type Theorems for Unions of Convex Sets
Noga Alon
11:00am|Simonyi Hall 101 and Remote Access

We define and study an extension of the notion of the VC-dimension of a hypergraph and apply it to establish a Tverberg type theorem for unions of convex sets. We also prove a new Radon type theorem for unions of convex sets, settling an open...

Mar
30
2026

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

A General Quantum Duality for Representations of Groups with Applications to Quantum Money, Lightning, and Fire
Barak Nehoran
11:00am|Simonyi Hall 101 and Remote Access

Note: This talk will involve quantum computing, cryptography, and representation theory, but no background in any of these will be necessary to understand it. I'll introduce everything from the basics.

Aaronson, Atia, and Susskind (2020) established...