Founded 2003 by Drew Sills and Doron Zeilberger.
Former co-organizers: Drew Sills (2003-2007), Moa ApaGodu (2005-2006), Lara Pudwell (2006-2008), Andrew Baxter (2008-2011), Brian Nakamura (2011-2013), Edinah Gnang (2011-2013), Matthew Russell (2013-2016), Nathan Fox (2016-2017), Bryan Ek (2017-2018), Mingjia Yang (2018-2020), Yonah Biers-Ariel (2018-2020), Robert Dougherty-Bliss (2020-2024), Stoyan Dimitrov (2023-2025)
Current co-organizers:
Doron Zeilberger (doronzeil {at} gmail [dot] com)
Aurora Hiveley (aurora.hiveley {at} scarletmail [dot] rutgers [dot] edu)
Lucy Martinez (lm1154 {at} scarletmail [dot] rutgers [dot] edu)
Archive of Previous Speakers and Talks You can find links to videos of some of these talks as well. Currently, our videos are being posted to our Vimeo page. Previously, we had videos posted on our YouTube page.
Date: Thu., Oct. 15, 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker: Aurora Hiveley (5:00-5:23); Lucy Martinez (5:25-5:48)
Title: tbd; tbd
Abstract: tbd; tbd
Date: Thu., Oct. 22, 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker: Jaideep Sai Padhi, Purdue University (Freshman)
Title: How I used Claude to meet Numerous Challenges Posed by Doron Zeilberger, thereby making the OEIS 1000 dollars Richer
Abstract: I will describe how I used Claude (Fable/Opus) to meet some very hard challenges posed by Dr. Z., for which he offered donations to the OEIS in honor of the first prover/disprover.
Date: Thu., Oct. 29 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker: Nikolai Beluhov, Cambridge University
Title: Bootstrap Percolation and Partial Difference Equations
Abstract: We study a bootstrap percolation process on the integer lattice where each newly occupied point completes a copy of one of the patterns in some fixed collection. We aim, given this collection, to find the smallest size of a percolating seed. We show that, for two patterns in two dimensions, in essence the answer is given by the mixed volume of the patterns' convex hulls. Our motivation for studying this setup comes from the theory of partial difference equations. Conversely, our considerations yield one consistency criterion for systems of two partial difference equations in two dimensions
Date: Thu., Nov. 5, 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker: Lawren Smithline, Center for Communication Research, Princeton, NJ
Title: tbd
Abstract: tbd
Date: Tue., Nov. 10, 2026, 5:05pm (Eastern Time) (Special in-person seminar) place: Hill 705
Speaker: Shaoshi Chen, Key Laboratory of Mathematics Mechanization, Chinese Academy of Science
Title: Symbolic Integration of Differential Forms: from Abel to Zeilberger
Abstract: This talk focuses on symbolic integration of differential forms, with a particular emphasis on historical and modern developments, from Abel's addition theorems for Abelian integrals to Zeilberger's creative telescoping for parameterized integrals. It explores closed rational p-forms and provides algorithmic approaches for their integration, extending classical results like Hermite reduction and Liouville's theorem. The integration of closed differential forms with parameters is further examined through telescopers, offering a unified framework for handling both algebraic and transcendental cases. This is a joint work with David A. Cox and Yisen Wang.
Date: Thu., Nov. 12, 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker: Cody Strouse, UC Davis
Title: A modular approach to Cardy's formula on the sixty-degree parallelogram
Abstract: In this talk we explore an intriguing connection between crossing probabilities for critical site percolation and modular forms. Motivated by previous work of Kleban and Zagier, we derive an analogue of the celebrated formula of Cardy in a new domain, and see that it is in fact characterized by surprisingly simple modular behavior.
Date: Thu., Nov. 19, 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker:
Yotam Smilansky, University of Manchester
Title:A tale of two tiles
Abstract: Take the unit interval and split it into two parts, one of length alpha and the other of length 1-alpha. In this talk we will explore the sequences of partitions, infinite binary words, tilings of the real line, tilings of the hyperbolic plane, and the zeta functions that this simple procedure gives rise to, and discuss various aspects of order and disorder.
Date: Thu., Dec. 3, 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker: Katie Wei, William Paterson University
Title: An Introduction to Differential Geometry: Curves, Surfaces, and Curvature
Abstract: This talk will give an accessible introduction to the basic ideas of differential geometry using familiar concepts from calculus and linear algebra. We will see how parametrised
curves and surfaces can be studied using tangent vectors and derivatives, and how these ideas lead naturally to curvature. Throughout the talk,
concrete examples and elementary problems will be used to illustrate how calculus can be used to understand geometric objects.
[Advised by Prof. Paul VonDohlen]
Date: Thu., Dec. 10, 2026, 5:00pm (Eastern Time)
Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]
Speaker: tbd
Title: tbd
Abstract: tbd