# Women in Operator Algebras II (21w5199)

## Organizers

Zahra Afsar (University of Sydney)

Sarah Reznikoff (Kansas State University)

## Description

The Banff International Research Station will host the "Women in Operator Algebras II" workshop in Banff from December 5 to December 10, 2021.

Operator algebras, a major branch of functional analysis, deals mainly with $C^*$-algebras and von Neumann algebras. These are $*$-subalgebras of the algebra of bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space that are closed in an appropriate topology. The field of operator algebras originated with von Neumann in the 1920s as a mathematical framework for modelling phenomena in quantum mechanics. It has since become a fundamental part of modern theoretical physics, as the natural setting for quantum information theory and quantum computing. In addition, operator algebras has connections to several areas of mathematics such as knot theory, dynamical systems, ergodic theory, and foundations.

The area of operator algebras is overwhelmingly male-dominated: less than 17% of researchers in operator algebras are women. We intend to join the global movement to increase the presence and visibility of women in mathematics.
The main goal of the workshop is to provide an environment for female operator algebraists to collaborate on pioneering research projects. The workshop also aims to develop the network of women in operator algebras and foster collaboration, support, and mentoring between its members. The participants will work in small groups of 4--6 members each led by one or two leaders. To maximize the productivity at the workshop, preliminary work will be done by the group members prior to the event.

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).