Calendar

Jun
16
Fri
Colloquium Kento Nakada (Okayama university, Japan) @ Keller 302
Jun 16 @ 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Jul
24
Mon
Colloquium Hanbaek Lyu (University of Wisconsin – Madison) @ Keller 403
Jul 24 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Jul
25
Tue
Applied math seminar: Andrea Agazzi (University of Pisa) @ Keller 302
Jul 25 @ 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Speaker: Assistant Prof. Andrea Agazzi from Università di Pisa, Italy

Title: Convergence and optimality of neural networks for reinforcement learning

Abstract: Recent groundbreaking results have established a convergence theory for wide neural networks in the supervised learning setting. Under an appropriate scaling of parameters at initialization, the (stochastic) gradient descent dynamics of these models converge towards a so-called “mean-field” limit, identified as a Wasserstein gradient flow. In this talk, we extend some of these recent results to examples of prototypical algorithms in reinforcement learning: Temporal-Difference learning and Policy Gradients. In the first case, we prove convergence and optimality of wide neural network training dynamics, bypassing the lack of gradient flow structure in this context by leveraging sufficient expressivity of the activation function. We further show that similar optimality results hold for wide, single layer neural networks trained by entropy-regularized softmax Policy Gradients despite the nonlinear and nonconvex nature of the risk function.

Aug
3
Thu
Colloquium: Isaac Goldbring
Aug 3 @ 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm


Keller 303

Speaker: Isaac Goldbring, UC Irvine.

Title:  The Connes Embedding Problem, MIP*=RE, and the Completeness Theorem

Abstract:  The Connes Embedding Problem (CEP) is arguably one of the most famous open problems in operator algebras.  Roughly, it asks if every tracial von Neumann algebra can be approximated by matrix algebras.  In 2020, a group of computer scientists proved a landmark result in complexity theory called MIP*=RE, and, as a corollary, gave a negative solution to the CEP.  However, the derivation of the negative solution of the CEP from MIP*=RE involves several very complicated detours through C*-algebra theory and quantum information theory.  In this talk, I will present joint work with Bradd Hart where we show how some relatively simple model-theoretic arguments can yield a direct proof of the failure of the CEP from MIP*=RE while simultaneously yielding a stronger, Gödelian-style refutation of CEP.  No prior background in any of these areas will be assumed.

Aug
7
Mon
Calvin Bannister’s MA presentation
Aug 7 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Keller 403.

Title:  Non-deterministic Automatic Complexity of Fibonacci words

Abstract:  Automatic complexity rates can be thought of as a measure of how random words can be for some given automaton (machine). By creating a scale between 0 and 1 that ranges from predictable to complex, if the rate of a given word is strictly between 0 and 1/2  then we call it indeterminate. In this paper we show that for an infinite Fibonacci word the non-deterministic automatic complexity can be no greater than 1/Φ^2.

Aug
21
Mon
1st day of instruction
Aug 21 all-day
Sep
19
Tue
Logic seminar: David Webb (Chaminade U.)
Sep 19 @ 1:30 pm – Sep 19 @ 2:30 pm

Kuykendall Hall 210

Title: Low($\Pi^0_1$-IM) = $\Delta^0_1$

Abstract: My dissertation investigated $\Pi^0_1$-immune sets, i.e. those
that have no co-enumerable subset. This talk continues that work, first
connecting it to modern notions of computability-theoretic lowness. Then
I settle (in the affirmative) a conjecture that my dissertation left
open: only the computable sets fail to co-enumerate a $\Pi^0_1$-immune
set.

Nov
7
Tue
Lance Ferrer’s dissertation defense
Nov 7 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Watanabe 112