WINTER 

Welcome! This is the seminar webpage for WINTER ("What Is Number Theory? ERrrrr"), a graduate student learning seminar in the Duke math department. The seminar meets on Tuesday from 2 to 3 in the Gross Hall math graduate lounge.

WINTER is a seminar for graduate students interested in number theory. It is a space for graduate students to present on topics that interest them in an accessible and judgement-free environment. 

For our spring 2024 seminar, presentations look like

• accessible "primers" for that week's department number theory seminar, or

• graduate student or post-doc presentations on the research they're thinking about.

Seminar norms: 

• Arrive on time, be attentive, and remain throughout the duration of the talk.

• Avoid describing mathematical statements/arguments with words like obvious, easy, etc.

• Recognise that we have varied background and interests, and plan your talk/questions accordingly.

• As a speaker…

  • introduce yourself (name, pronouns, year, math interests and/or advisor);

  • use relevant examples wherever possible; and

  • practice your talk, and try to keep it under an hour (including questions).

• Ask questions respectfully and answer questions respectfully. 

  • "I don't know" or "I'm not sure. What I know is... " are always valid responses.

  • No question is stupid. We're here to learn!

• Give the speaker grace when they make mistakes.

Topics in past semesters:

In Fall 2023 seminar, we are running three simultaneous reading groups with rotating presentations. The three reading groups are

• algebraic groups,

• Iwasawa theory, and

• sieve methods.
   

In Spring 2023, we had three simultaneous reading groups which rotated presentations. The three reading groups were

• étale cohomology,

• the Gross-Stark conjecture, and

• the Vinogradov Mean Value Theorem.
  
  

In Fall 2022, we had a "What is....?" series in which each talk centered on a specific theorem or object in number theory.