Participant Testimonials

Jan 20 - Jan 25, 2019

BIRS is a very inspiring place to be to do mathematics. This time I managed to push forward three projects that look very promising. Being away from your usual routine, in an inspiring environment, with the best minds in your field can only produce such magic.

Nantel Bergeron Distinguished research professor
Mathematics and Statistics, York University

This meeting was a great occasion for me to present for the first time exciting new perspectives in the domain, giving natural ties between what previously seemed to be disconnected central questions. The top level feedback from the other participants lead immediately to interesting new research projects in directions that I was not expecting. The manifold areas of expertise represented by them helped shape up these projects, and I expect that important new results will soon arise from these new collaborations.

François Bergeron Professeur
Mathematiques, Université du Québec à Montréal

This workshop introduced me to several new avenues I can use to approach some problems that I have been thinking about for a while. I also began a new collaboration and made progress on a prior collaboration. I like that the workshop allowed ample time for discussion and research but also included many really great talks!

Sarah Mason Associate Professor
Mathematics, Wake Forest University

Banff Research Station provides a perfect setup for a successful workshop or a meeting: onsite lodging and food, plenty of spaces for work in small groups, great lecture hall with all necessary technology and a nice blackboard. Even a gym to burn off all the calories from the wonderful food. The workshop "Representation Theory Connections to (q,t)-Combinatorics" allowed me to reconnect with colleagues working on related projects, meet with potential collaborators and do some work towards two current projects.

Mikhail Mazin Assistant Professor
Mathematics, Kansas State University

The workshop was an excellent opportunity for us to exchange new ideas. The progress made just in the first few days we were there would probably have taken years to realize otherwise. What we discovered while we were there was that the representation theoretic model for a special case of the "(q,t)-Combinatorics" in the title could easily be extended by adding an extra set of variables. This was a natural extension of some of the previous work in this area, but no one had tried it yet. Having people who knew how to carry out different sorts of calculations in the same place allowed us to make some steps forward that can only be done with seven-league boots.

Mike Zabrocki Mathematics and Statistics, York University