Midwest Theory Day

...[I]t is true that computer science in its theoretical formulation is dominated by a spirit of abstraction which defers to no other branch of mathematics in its zealotry. -- Davis and Hersh, "The Mathematical Experience"

The 59th Midwest Theory Day will take place sometime in December, 2009.
  

Background

Midwest Theory Day is held twice a year, usually on a Saturday in December and on a Saturday in April or May.  Anyone interested in theoretical computer science is welcome to attend.  There is no registration fee, lunch is provided, and the talks are scheduled so that from many locations in the Midwest it is often possible to come, attend all of the talks, and return home all in a day.  For those wishing to stay into the evening, arrangements for a banquet dinner are made at a local restaurant, each person paying for his or her own meal.  

There are usually six or seven contributed talks and often an invited talk.  There is no program committee and there are no proceedings.  Anyone willing to talk may do so.  The atmosphere is relaxed and informal and so is an excellent forum for graduate students to get experience giving a talk.   

Generally, the December day has been held at a university in Chicago and the spring day somewhere else in the Midwest but this varies depending on who offers to host.  

If you have any questions about the day or this web site or, better yet, if you wish to host the day please send me e-mail.

Next Theory Day

The 59th MTD will take place in December, 2009.  Check back in the fall for a date and location.  The December day usually takes place in Chicago but any willing to host will be considered. 

Previous Theory Days

The 58th MTD was held on Saturday, April 25th, at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.  The 57th was held on Saturday, December 6th, on Northwestern University's Evanston campus and the 56th was held Saturday, May 10th, 2008, at the University of Michigan.  The photo below was taken at the 55th day, held on Saturday, November 17th, at the University of Chicago.  Most of the participants appear in this photo taken in Ryerson Hall on the stairway.

 

  The dates and locations of those from the past few years, with links to websites, are listed here.

A table listing the dates and locations of all previous Theory Days is available.  This was copied from the web site created by Shripad Thite, the organizer of the December, 2001, Theory Day, and based on information given by Michael Loui. 

Author: John D. Rogers (jrogers@cs.depaul.edu), CDM, DePaul
Last updated Wednesday, April 29th, 2009.