Conference: 2023 Spectra Survey of Mathematics - Participant Support

The 2023 Spectra Survey of Mathematics Conference University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY Project Summary Overview: This project is a conference promoting LGBTQ+ graduate and postdoctoral students in mathematics. The conference is being organized by the Spectra chapter at the University of Kentucky and will take place May 20-21 at UKY. During the conference, graduate and postdoctoral students will have the opportunity to give 20-minute presentations on their research achievements. Furthermore, there will be three keynote speakers, each a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a leading researcher in their area of study. Intellectual Merit: Our three keynote speakers, Dr. Alexander Hoover, Dr. Mary Lynn Reed, and Dr. Seth Sullivan, respectively work in the fields of data science, applied algebra, and combinatorial algebraic geometry. These fields apply mathematical tools to a variety of pressing social, economic, and scientific issues, ranging from cryptography and algebraic statistics to bioinformatics. In order to promote continued research in these fields, it is necessary to have conferences like the 2023 Spectra Survey of Mathematics to keep junior investigators aware of recent advances and open questions. Broader Impact: The conference will provide a great opportunity for graduate and postdoctoral students to network and meet other young mathematicians and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The variety of topics included in the conference will help create an interdisciplinary environment which will strengthen the ties of the mathematical society as a whole. The opportunity for students to deliver talks will help them to develop their presentation and teaching skills, allowing them to become more successful young researchers.