Special Session in Logic, Algebra and Formal Aspects of Computer Science LAFACS University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa 26 - 28 June 1997 Official conference language: English More information: http://www.mth.uct.ac.za/lafacs.html Areas of interest include (but are not limited to) modal logic, temporal logic, dynamic logic, boolean algebras with operators, algebraic logic, universal algebra, lattice theory, model theory, set theory, automated theorem proving, algebraic specifications, program verification / derivation, production of safety critical software, relational and algebraic semantics. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is our pleasure to announce a special session in LOGIC, ALGEBRA, and FORMAL ASPECTS of COMPUTER SCIENCE ====================================================== at the JOINT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE of the American Math. Soc. -- London Math. Soc. -- South African Math. Soc. June 26--28 1997, at the University of Pretoria, South Africa We, the organisers of this session (Valentin Goranko, Peter Jipsen, Ralph McKenzie and James Raftery), hope you will take the opportunity to visit this fascinating country and participate in what will be one of the largest mathematics conferences on the African continent. By presenting a talk at this conference you will not only exchange research ideas with your colleagues, but also inspire an emerging generation of South African mathematicians, and make some contacts with local professionals which will hopefully result in further collaboration. Areas of interest include (but are not limited to) modal logic, temporal logic, dynamic logic, boolean algebras with operators, algebraic logic, universal algebra, lattice theory, model theory, set theory, automated theorem proving, algebraic specifications, program verification / derivation, production of safety critical software, relational and algebraic semantics. If you are interested in attending this special session (LAFACS for short) or receiving future mailings, please reply to lafacs@proof.mth.uct.ac.za before 15 March. If you want to present a talk, please send a (preliminary) title and/or abstract as well. Included below is a list of the other sessions and some general information about the conference, also accessible at http://science.up.ac.za/sams/joint.html. If you have any questions, please send email to lafacs@proof.mth.uct.ac.za or contact one of us session organisers directly. This announcement and future up-to-date information about the lafacs session can also be read at http://www.mth.uct.ac.za/lafacs.html . Yours, Valentin Goranko Peter Jipsen Ralph McKenzie James Raftery Rand Afrikaans University of Vanderbilt University of University, SA Cape Town, SA University, USA Natal, SA vfg@rau3.rau.ac.za pjipsen@maths.uct.ac.za mckenzie@math.vanderbilt.edu raftery@ph.und.ac.za %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The information below can also be found on the conference web page http://science.up.ac.za/sams/joint.html Accepted Invited Addresses ========================== Hyman Bass Columbia University Armand Borel Princeton NJ Percy Deift Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University G F R Ellis University of Cape Town, South Africa David Epstein University of Warwick, United Kingdom W Goddard University of Natal, Durban, South Africa Doron Lubinsky University of Witwatersrand, South Africa Robert Mackay University of Cambridge, United Kingdom Peter Sarnak Princeton University Special Sessions ================ Algebraic K-Theory Eric M Friedlander - Northwestern University, eric@math.nwu.cdu Aderemi O Kuku - ICTP, Trieste, Italy, kuku@ictp.trieste.it Commutative Algebra and Algebraic Geometry James Brewer - Florida Atlantic University, jim@kafka.acc.fau.edu Barry Green - University of Stellenbosch Sylvia Wiegand - University of Nebraska, swiegand@unlinfo.unl.edu Dynamical Systems and Ergodic Theory Harvey B Keynes - University of Minnesota, keynes@math.umn.edu Michael Sears - University of Witwatersrand, SA, 036mis@cosmos.wits.ac.za Lionel Slammert - Univ. of the Western Cape, SA, lslammert@math.uwc.ac.za Finite Groups and Representation Theory Jamshid Moori - University of Natal, South Africa, moori@math.unp.ac.za Kenneth Nwabueze - MSRI Berkeley, nwabueze@msri.org Fluid Dynamics Susan J Friedlander - Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, susan@math.nwu.edu Andrew Gilbert - University of Exeter, UK, adg@maths.exeter.ac.uk David Mason - Univ. of Witwatersrand, SA, dpmason@gauss.cam.wits.ac.za Geometry, Topology and Physics Steven B Bradlow - University of Illinois-Urbana bradlow@uiuc.edu George Ellis - University of Cape Town, SA, ellis@maths.uct.ac.za Nigel J Hitchin - University of Cambridge, UK, n.hitchin@pmms.cam.ac.uk Joao Rodrigues - Univ. of Witwatersrand, SA, joao@physnet.phys.wits.ac.za Invariant Subspaces and Collections of Operators Peter Rosenthal - University of Toronto, rosent@math.toronto.edu Graeme Philip West - Univ. of Witwatersrand, SA, 036weg@cosmos.wits.ac.za Logic, Algebra and Formal Aspects of Computer Science Valentin Goranko - Rand Afrikaans University, SA, vfg@rau3.rau.ac.za Peter Jipsen - University of Cape Town, SA, pjipsen@maths.uct.ac.za Ralph McKenzie - Vanderbilt Univ. Nashville, mckenzie@math.vanderbilt.edu James Raftery - University of Natal, SA, raftery@ph.und.ac.za Number Theory (see http://sunsite.wits.ac.za/nt) Arnold Knopfmacher - Univ. of Witwatersrand, SA, arnoldk@gauss.cam.wits.ac.za Peter Sarnak - Princeton University, sarnak@math.princeton.edu Numerical Analysis and Approximation Theory Peter Graves-Morris - p.r.graves-morris@bradford.ac.uk Dirk Laurie - Potchefstroom University, SA, dirk@calvyn.puk.ac.za Doron Lubinsky - WITS University, SA, 036dsl@cosmos.wits.ac.za Andre Weideman - weideman@math.orst.edu Operator Spaces and Related Structures David P Blecher - University of Houston, dblecher@math.uh.edu Allan M Sinclair - University of Edinburgh, allan@maths.ed.ac.uk Johan Swart - University of Pretoria, jswart@scientia.up.ac.za Partial Differential Equations Integrable and Near-Integrable Systems Percy Alec Deift - New York Univ.-Courant Institute, deift@cims4.cims.nyu.edu Jalal Shatah - New York Univ.-Courant Institute, shatah@cims.nyu.edu Ramsey Theory and Set Theory Willem Fouche - University of Pretoria, wlfouche@scientia.up.ac.za Pieter Maritz - University of Stellenbosch, pm@maties.sun.ac.za Marion Scheepers - Boise State University, marion@cantor.idbsu.edu Secondary and Postsecondary Curriculum Reform Johann Engelbrecht - Univ. of Pretoria, SA, jengelbr@scientia.up.ac.za Deborah Hughes-Hallet - Harvard University, dbh@math.harvard.edu Harvey B Keynes - University of Minnesota, keynes@math.umn.edu General Topics Contact joint@math.up.ac.za Location ======== The conference will take place on the main campus of the University of Pretoria. The campus is situated in Hatfield, a suburb east of downtown Pretoria. Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa and is situated in the Gauteng province. Johannesburg is about 70 km and Johannesburg international airport approximately 45 km from Pretoria. June is winter in Pretoria, with average night temperature 4 degrees C and the average day temperature 19.5 degrees. Organisation ============ The conference is jointly organised by the South African, American and London Mathematical Societies (SAMS: Michael Sears, AMS: Susan Friedlander and LMS: Elmer Rees). The local organisers at Pretoria University are Johann Engelbrecht and Johan Swart. The programme will consist of 9 plenary lectures by mathematicians from the three countries and will include (probably 16) special sessions. It will also be preceded by a number of workshops on the day prior to the conference (25 June 1997). Social events in the evenings will include a conference reception, a performance by an African jazz band and happy hour meetings. Provision has been made for persons who would like to stay longer and combine the visit with a vacation visiting this beautiful country's well known national game parks or other scenic areas. Registration ============ Early registration fee amounts R300.00 (South African Rands, approximately US$65.00) if you register before 15 March 1997. Late registration amounts R380.00. Registration forms are available on request. We will also make registration possible through http://science.up.ac.za/sams/joint.html. Accommodation and Transport =========================== Hotels. Arrangements have been made with the following two hotels for special conference rates. Transport between the university and these hotels will be provided. Reservations have to be made before 23 May 1997 to qualify for these special rates. Make your reservations with the hotel directly. The current exchange rate is US$1.00 = R4.70. Holiday Inn Crown Plaza **** TYYY Tel: +27 12 3411571 Fax: +27 12 447534 Address: 794 Beatrix Street, PO Box 40694, Arcadia, 0007 Pretoria Contact person: Kaylene Collier Reference no: 665/30 Rates: R300.00 single - room only R175.00 sharing - room only Full breakfast: R44.00 Remarks: Good accommodation Hotel 224 * TYYY Tel: +27 12 445281/2/3/4/5 Fax: +27 12 443063 Address: Schoeman Street, PO Box 55405, Arcadia, 0007 Pretoria Contact person: Annemari Lourens Rates: R150.00 single - includes English breakfast R95.00 sharing - includes English breakfast Remarks: Economy accommodation but clean B&B Guest Houses. Pretoria has many very pleasant B&B Guest Houses with rates varying between R100.00 and R400.00 a day. However, it will not be possible to provide transport between the campus and all guest houses. A list of the guest houses not too far from the campus will shortly be posted on this web page. Transport between the hotels and the campus, as well as transport between the airport and the hotels will be arranged. Deadlines ========= The following deadlines should be kept in mind: Early registration at reduced rate - 15 March 1997 Cancellation of registration with 90% refund - 15 May 1997 Deadline for titles to special session organisers - 15 March 1997 Deadline for abstracts to special session organisers - 30 April 1997 Social events, excursions and other things to do ================================================ As mentioned above, social events in the evenings will include a conference reception, a performance by an African jazz band and happy hour meetings. Excursions are planned to visit some interesting places, like visiting some of the popular casinos in the vicinity. The famed Kruger National Park (about 5 hours drive from Pretoria on a good national road) is the largest natural game reserve in the world and well worth a visit when in South Africa. Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to get accommodation. You could rent a car in Pretoria and make your own trip to (e.g.) the Kruger National Park. Holiday travelling in South Africa is done by everybody in the country and is as safe as in any other country. We are also appointing an official travel agent for the conference that will arrange organised bus tours to the Kruger Park and to Sun City (the Las Vegas of South Africa) after the conference, if there is a demand. Please let us know if you are interested. Security Situation ================== We do not want to deny that violence is a problem all over South Africa at the moment. Our feeling, however, is that it is blown out of proportion by the media right now. One of the reasons why the SAMS organising committee decided on Pretoria as conference venue, is the security situation. The campus of the University of Pretoria is as safe as any campus in the world. The area around campus is bustling with business and amusement which reflects the safety and peacefulness of this part of the city. It is, however, not advisable to venture into the downtown area of Pretoria at night unless you are accompanied by a local person who knows where not to go. The time of the meeting is in the winter recess with almost no students around, in case you are worried about student protests (of which we have had virtually none at the University of Pretoria). We talked to our University Registrar, who is the official spokesman on the security situation. His comment in short: No further unrest or disturbance is expected.