Conference: Recent Trends in Ergodic Theory, Symbolic Dynamics, and Connections to Combinatorics

The Recent Trends in Ergodic Theory, Symbolic Dynamics, and Connections to Combinatorics is a conference to be held at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, from August 31- September 4, 2026. Understanding how complex systems evolve over time is central to many challenges in science and technology, from identifying patterns in large data sets to modeling phenomena in the natural and social sciences. This conference will showcase recent advances in the mathematical frameworks that help make sense of such complexity, emphasizing ideas that clarify how order and randomness coexist in evolving systems. By bringing together researchers at different career stages and supporting broad participation, the project will promote the exchange of ideas, strengthen research networks in the United States, and help train a cohort of young scientists equipped to tackle foundational problems. Dynamical systems theory has long been a cornerstone for predicting and analyzing the long-term behavior of both natural and artificial systems, with applications spanning physics, biology, economics, and beyond. Within this broad field, subareas such as ergodic Ramsey theory and symbolic dynamics play a particularly important role. Their study not only deepens our understanding of the structure of complex dynamical systems but also reveals profound connections to other branches of mathematics, including combinatorics and number theory. The conference aims to convene leading international experts in ergodic Ramsey theory and symbolic dynamics in order to catalyze new research directions and foster scientific collaborations in these fields. Moreover, the event will provide U.S.-based graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with essential exposure to these rapidly evolving fields and will actively cultivate the next generation of U.S.-based researchers in these crucial areas of modern mathematics. The conference website is: https://sites.northwestern.edu/trendsinergodictheorysymbolicdynamicscombinatorics/ This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2608395 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Rachel Greenfeld | Institution: Northwestern University at Chicago, EVANSTON, IL | Award Amount: $25,000 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2608395 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2608395.html