Report NASI-TIMC Workshop on Coxeter Groups

NASI-TIMC Workshop on Coxeter Groups

A Report on NASI-TIMC Workshop on Coxeter Groups

December 17-19, 2018

(Left to Right) Dr. Neeraj Kumar, Dr. Amit Kumar Verma, Dr. Satya Deo, Dr. N S N Sastry, Dr. Ritumoni Sharma	Lightening of Lamp

Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Patna in association with The National Academy of Sciences, India(NASI) & The Indian Mathematics Consortium organized a three-day Workshop on Coxeter
Groups which was held in the Department of Mathematics, IIT Patna during Dec. 17-19, 2018.

The inaugural function started at 9:00 AM on 17th December with welcome address by Dr. Ashish Kumar Upadhyay, Convener of the workshop. He welcomed all the dignitaries, scientists, researchers & students present in
the seminar hall. The inauguration function started with singing of the institute song by Dr Sujoy K Samanta (Asst Prof, dept of CBE, IIT Patna) and his team. Following this the dignitaries and speakers were invited on the
dais and were welcome by presentation of a bouquet by the acting HoD Dr. Amit K Verma. All the dignitaries on dais were invited to light the lamp which followed by invocation of and prayer to Goddess Saraswati.

All the dignitaries on the dais addressed the audience. Dr Amit Verma, acting HoD presented a brief overview of the dept. Dr Ritumoni greeted the participants and wished the program a success. Prof NSN Sastry who
was the main resource person for the workshop gave a flavor of the subject of Coxeter groups and highlighted their significance in Mathematics. It was a good fortune to have the presence of executive secretary of NASI, Dr Niraj Kumar. In his address Dr Niraj highlighted the initiatives taken by NASI for the advancement of science and service to the society. Prof Satya Deo a distinguished Mathematician and a very humble human being who
had also been a continuous source of encouragement for successfully organizing this program spoke about TIMC in detail and about NASI-TIMC programs. He also highlighted about how Prof R Kulkarni formed TIMC and
ideated NASI-TIMC programs.

Forty out stationed participants from various parts of the country extending from Jammu to Thiruvananthpuram and from Punjab to Bhubaneshwar, from National Institutes, Universities and Colleges  were present during the inauguration of the workshop. The audience also included faculty members and students of the department. They were requested to introduce themselves which they did. As a token of gratitude the dignitaries were presented with memento. The inauguration completed with a high tea.

The lectures formally started after the high tea with a Lecture by Prof Satya Deo on Co-hopficity of manifold groups. During the remaining part of the day Dr Ritumoni Sarma (IIT Delhi) started his talk on finite reflection
groups and later Prof NSN Sastry(ex Prof ISI Bangalore and Prof IIT Dharwad) started his lectures on Coxeter groups.
On the subsequent days, each of the resource persons delivered two lectures per day. The lectures of Prof NSN Sastry were of one and half hour duration where as that of Dr Ritumoni Sarma were of one hour duration. Dr
Ritumoni Sarma covered the topics on finite reflection gorups in dimensions two and three and fundamental regions. Prof Sastry covered topics on Bruhat decomposition, Cayley graph of a system (G, S), Coxeter Matrix,
Coxeter diagram, Coxeter system, (B, N) pairs, Roots, Walls, half spaces etc.
On the last day of program, i.e., on 19th December a short closing function was held immediately after the last class of Prof NSN Sastry in which feedback from all the participants were collected in a prescribed format
and which are also available with the local convener. Dr Sarma and Prof Sastry were requested to say few words and they obliged by highlighting the importance of the topics covered in the program along with suggestions
for future directions.

Valedictory Function Photographs

The organizer heartily expresses his gratitude to NASI and TIMC and in particular Prof Satya Deo and Dr Niraj Kumar for their continued support and encouragement for successfully organizing this program.