Why are we here?
In the past few years a number of very significant advances have
taken place in several different branches of computational algebra
and number theory. Because of the growing interdependence between
the different branches, an algorithmic advance in one area often
has a major impact on the performance of algorithms in other areas.
The compartmentalized nature of many of the more `pure mathematical'
areas of computational algebra, means that the significance of a
development in one area may not be readily appreciated in other
areas. Consequently, there is an urgent need to bring together
workers from some of the key areas.
Further, both the development
and application of computational techniques would greatly benefit
through having key users interact with algorithm and software designers.
This would simultaneously help inform the mathematical community
of the new tools becoming available and also identify areas of
computational algebra where further developments are most likely
to bring maximum benefit.
It is proposed to address these issues in a conference on Computational
Algebra to be hosted by Marquette University on May 12-16, 1996. The
conference is intended to
- Inform algorithm designers and users of recent developments
in cognate areas of computational algebra, number theory and geometry.
- Inform key theoretical mathematicians of the possibilities
offered by the computational algebra tools that are now becoming
available.
- Provide an opportunity for a select group of mathematicians
to gain in-depth experience in using some of the available packages.
- Identify desirable algorithm and software developments that
would result in significant new applications in the near future.
- Promote the use of the techniques of computational algebra
in application areas such as digital signal processing, complex
system design, network design, cryptography, coding theory and
applied combinatorics.
Return to
preconference homepage.
Return to
conference homepage.