Author: Spencer Breiner

Thanks again to all of the participants at the NIST workshop on applied category theory, held March 15th & 16th.

Below are links to the slides and videos for most of the talks from the meeting. Unfortunately, the end of Dusko Pavlovic’s talk, as well as Ryan Wisnesky’s and Steve Huntsman’s were lost due to a technical error. You can also find a Youtube playlist with all of the videos here.

Introduction to NIST:

Ram Sriram – NIST and Category Theory

 

Spencer Breiner – Introduction

Invited talks:

Bob Coecke – From quantum foundations to cognition via pictures

 

Dusko Pavlovic – Security Science in string diagrams (partial video)

 

John Baez – Compositional Design and Tasking of Networks (Part 1)

 

John Foley – Compositional Design and Tasking of Networks (Part 2)

 

David Spivak – A higher-order temporal logic for dynamical systems

 

Lightning Round Talks:

Ryan Wisnesky – Categorical Databases (no video)

Steve Huntsman – Towards an operad of goals (no video)

 

Bill Regli – Disrupting Interoperability (no slides)

 

Evan Patterson -Applied Category Theory in Data Science

 

Brendan Fong – Data Structures for Network Languages

 

Stephane Dugowson – A short introduction to a general theory of interactivity

 

Michael Robinson – Sheaf Methods for Inference

 

Cliff Joslyn – Seeking a Categorical Systems Theory via the Category of Hypergraphs

 

Emilie Purvine – A Category-theoretical Investigation of the Type Hierarchy for Heterogeneous Sensor Integration

 

Helle Hvid Hansen – Long-Term Values in MDP’s, Corecursively

 

Alberto Speranzon – Localization and Planning for Autonomous Systems Via (Co)homology Computation

 

Josh Tan – Indicator Frameworks (no slides)

Breakout round report

Prior to the larger meeting in Leiden in April/May, on March 15-16 NIST will be holding a small workshop on ACT aimed at practical planning for the field.

John Baez has suggested that some may want to stay a couple of extra days to continue working over the weekend, a proposal which I heartily second. I’ve added this thread to the ACT blog so that we can coordinate in one place rather than by email.

Unfortunately, NIST is closed to foreign visitors over the weekend, so we will need to find a different location, something that I (Spencer) will work on.

Below are the original message and the replies so far. Add your own vote in the comments.

John Baez wrote:

Hi –

Since a bunch of us are going to the applied category theory workshop in Gaithersburg on Thursday March 14th and Friday March 15th, I’m wondering if any of you would like to stay on a bit longer and talk on Saturday and/or Sunday.   I think it would be fun and productive!

I sent this email only to those people whose email addresses I happen to have.  I’m not trying to set up a secret club, so if any of you know other participants who may be interested, please pass this on.

Best, jb

Steve Huntsman wrote:

I live in the area and should be able to clear time on the weekend.

It would be nice to have access to white/chalkboards, wherever we might meet. Failing that, I could surely find some large-format paper and markers, and perhaps even a portable stand to mount it on sitting around my workplace. Maybe other locals have a better idea (or could do something similar in parallel).

David Spivak wrote:

Good idea, John. I’m considering it. Anyone else?

John Baez wrote:

Since people who say they can’t are mainly emailing just me, let me mention that Jamie Vicary and Bob Coecke can’t, and Steve Huntsman can.

I only need a few good people to talk to, to make it worth hanging out and talking: I only have two ears and one mouth.

Best, jb

Dusko Pavlovic wrote:

hi john,

bringing this group together is an excellent idea, and staying the conversation would be very interesting.

i see though there is a bellairs workshop right after, about diagrammatic reasoning…

one idea is to meet a day or two before. another idea is that, if Gaithersburg does not work, maybe we could all meet for a week in honolulu. if we plan a bit in advance, we could probably get accommodation on campus…

i appreciate your initiative and would be very interested to participate if possible.

all teh best, — dusko

Ryan Wisnesky wrote:

I’d be happy to stay longer.

-Ryan