Synopsis
A small group of researchers discusses new directions and open
problems in the area of probabilistic methods in combinatorics
and graph theory.
Topics this year include
isoperimetric concentration inequalities,
random expander graphs,
Reed's conjecture on coloring,
the diameter of the minimal spanning tree of a random complete
graph,
and the evolution of various models of random graphs.
Organizers
Bruce Reed (McGill University) organizes this meeting. His research group is CARP (CARP stands for Combinatorics, Algorithms, Randomization and Probability).
Contact: breed@cs.mcgill.ca.
Participants
- From McGill University, Montreal: Bruce Reed (organizer), Luc Devroye, Ross Kang, Neil Olver, Andrew King, James King, Victor Campos, Sean Kennedy, Vida Dujmovic.
- From INRIA, Versailles: Nicolas Broutin.
- From Oxford University: Colin McDiarmid, Louigi Addario-Berry.
- From Caltech: Peter Keevash.
- From the University of Birmingham: Nikolaos Fountoulakis.
- From INRIA Sofia-Antipolis, France: Omid Amini.
- From Rutgers University, New Jersey: Bill Steiger.
- From Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona: Gabor Lugosi.
Location
The workshop takes place at McGill University's Bellairs Institute in Holetown, Barbados, on the west side of the island. It can be reached from Grantley Adams airport in about 40 minutes by taxi (58 Barbados dollars, or 29 US dollars) and in about 100 minutes by city bus (1.50 Barbados dollars).
Barbadopedia
Barbados is safe.
US currency can be used at the rate of two Barbados dollars for one US dollar. There are plenty of ATM machines all over the island (including in the departure area of the airport) that have access to the major banks in North America. All major US and Canadian bank cards work fine.
Bring mosquito repellant. There are (infrequent) outbreaks of dengue fever, so check ahead of time. In the recent past, dengue has not been a problem.
There are computers on campus with access to the internet. Bellairs is fully covered by a wireless network called Bellairs Bucko. There is a small charge for the use of this network.
Accommodation
The accommodation is basic but very charming. The rates vary per room (basic rooms, newer apartments, and rooms in Seabourne House). The basic rooms run about 40 US dollars per person per night. The organizers will assign the rooms according to some secret optimization algorithm.
Dinner is at 6:15pm, Monday through Friday, and is provided by the Bellairs cook. Each meal costs 25 US dollars.
Breakfast is provided as well, at 5 dollars per meal.
Lunches are often taken in nearby restaurants or fast food places. There is also a "lunch truck" that passes daily around noon ($7.50 US per meal).