{"id":75,"date":"2026-06-11T16:19:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T16:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/?page_id=75"},"modified":"2026-07-15T16:15:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T16:15:06","slug":"speaker-abstracts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/speaker-abstracts\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaker Abstracts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/files\/2026\/07\/Conference-schedule-20260701.pdf\">Conference schedule (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conference speaker abstracts<\/strong>:<br><br><strong>Grant T. Barkley<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Extended weak order<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Extended weak order is the poset of biclosed sets in a positive root system, introduced by Matthew Dyer. It is an invariant of the underlying Coxeter group <em>W<\/em>, and contains the weak order on W as an order ideal. There are many open conjectures asserting that the extended weak order on an infinite Coxeter group behaves like the weak order on a finite Coxeter group. For instance, Dyer conjectures that the extended weak order is a lattice, which is a famous property of the weak order when <em>W<\/em> is finite. We will discuss some of these conjectures and recent progress on them.<br><br><strong>Amanda Burcroff<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Eventual sign coherence for quivers<br><em>Abstract: <\/em>The theory of cluster algebras has shown that many important spaces in math and physics have beautiful fundamental properties, such as the Laurent phenomenon, positivity, and sign coherence. This last property says that the combinatorial operation of mutation preserves some local structure in certain quivers, and the only known proofs rely on heavy tools from representation theory or algebraic geometry. Gekhtman and Nakanishi posed the Asymptotic Sign Coherence Conjecture for arbitrary quivers, which says sign coherence should eventually emerge in any sufficiently generic infinite mutation sequence. We prove, using purely combinatorial methods, that this conjecture holds with probability 1 for a random mutation sequence and that it holds in full for many families of quivers. This is joint work with Scott Neville.<br><strong><br>Sergey Fomin<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em>&nbsp;Expressive curves<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> A real plane algebraic curve <em>C<\/em> is called&nbsp;expressive&nbsp;if its defining polynomial has the smallest number of critical points allowed by the topology of the set of real points of <em>C<\/em>. We give a necessary and sufficient criterion for expressivity (subject to a mild technical condition), describe several constructions that produce&nbsp;expressive&nbsp;curves, and relate their study to the combinatorics of plabic graphs, their quivers, and links. This is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ams.org\/journals\/cams\/2023-03-10\/S2692-3688-2023-00012-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">joint work<\/a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.math.tau.ac.il\/~shustin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eugenii Shustin<\/a>.<br><br><strong>Christian Gaetz<\/strong><br><em>Title: <\/em>Combinatorial invariance for the coefficient of <em>q<\/em> in Kazhdan\u2013Lusztig polynomials<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> I will describe joint&nbsp;work with Grant Barkley and Thomas Lam in which we study the Combinatorial Invariance Conjecture (CIC), which asserts that Kazhdan\u2013Lusztig polynomials depend only on the combinatorics of Bruhat order. Motivated by the cluster structure on Richardson varieties, we prove the combinatorial invariance of the coefficient of <em>q<\/em> in KL polynomials for arbitrary Coxeter groups. We also prove the Gabber\u2013Joseph conjecture for the second-highest Ext group of a pair of Verma modules, as well as the combinatorial invariance of the dimension of this group. No background on Kazhdan\u2013Lusztig theory will be assumed.<br><strong><br>Allen Knutson<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Matrix positroid varieties<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Fulton defined matrix Schubert varieties in 1992 by taking the preimage of Schubert varieties in GL<em><sub>n<\/sub><\/em> and taking the closure in Mat<em><sub>n<\/sub><\/em>. Now in affine space, one can study these using Gr\u00f6bner degeneration, and obtain polynomial representatives for their equivariant cohomology classes (fundamental and Chern\u2013Schwartz\u2013MacPherson). Recently similar representatives were found for the classes of positroid varieties [Fan\u2013Guo\u2013Su\u2013Xiong]. Fulton&#8217;s trick doesn&#8217;t work out of the box, as I&#8217;ll explain, but can be tweaked to give a parallel story (and geometric meaning to the FGSX formula). This work is joint with Paul Zinn-Justin.<br><strong><br>Jacob Matherne<\/strong><br><em>Title<\/em>: Log-concavity in algebraic combinatorics and representation theory<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> In this talk, we will present a survey of log-concave sequences appearing in algebraic combinatorics and representation theory.&nbsp; On the one hand, we will discuss log-concavity properties of Schur polynomials and their relatives, and on the other hand log-concavity properties of representation-theoretic objects in type A such as irreducible finite-dimensional representations, Verma modules, and parabolic Verma modules. This talk is based on joint work with Yairon Cid-Ruiz, June Huh, Apoorva Khare, Yupeng Li, Karola M\u00e9sz\u00e1ros, and Avery St. Dizier.<br><br><strong>Isabella Novik<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Lower bounds on face numbers<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> In this talk, I will discuss several approaches to studying the face numbers of simplicial complexes, with a particular focus on obtaining lower bounds. These approaches include classical rigidity theory, Stanley\u2013Reisner rings, and higher\u2011dimensional stress spaces. I will also describe a number of both classical and recent results on face numbers that have been obtained using these tools.<br><br><strong>Vincent Pilaud<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Building lattices with flat scaffolding projections<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> The talk will present a new method for proving that certain posets are lattices and will illustrate it through both classical examples and more recent constructions. Joint work with Daria Poliakova.<br><strong><br>Martha Precup<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Dimension stability for Hessenberg varieties<br><em>Abstract: <\/em>Hessenberg varieties are subvarieties of the flag variety parametrized by conjugacy classes of matrices and a choice of a weakly increasing sequence of positive numbers. This family of varieties includes Springer fibers, the Peterson variety, and permutohedral variety as special cases, and plays an important role in geometric representation theory and combinatorics. Outside of special cases, basic questions about the geometry of Hessenberg varieties remain wide open: What is their dimension? When is a Hessenberg variety irreducible?<br> In this talk, we will discuss how to use tableaux combinatorics to prove Hessenberg varieties satisfy a surprising dimension stability condition. Recalling that a sheet is a certain union of conjugacy classes of equal dimension, we focus on Hessenberg varieties defined over a fixed sheet of matrices, showing that all such varieties have equal dimension. This talk is based on joint work with Goldin, and also with Harada and Robichaux.<br><strong><br>Nathan Reading<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Theta functions in acyclic affine type<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Scattering diagrams are discrete-geometric objects that come from the study of mirror symmetry in algebraic geometry.&nbsp;Given a scattering diagram, one can, in principle, compute a theta function for each integer vector, defined as a sum indexed by broken lines (piecewise linear curves that bend on the walls of the scattering diagram).&nbsp;In practice, it may be hard to find the broken lines and much harder still to prove that one has found all possible broken lines.&nbsp;Gross, Hacking, Keel, and Kontsevich defined a cluster scattering diagram for each exchange matrix and showed that the cluster monomials are the theta functions indexed by vectors in the g-vector fan. In many cases, the set of all theta functions constitutes a basis for the (upper) cluster algebra. Outside of finite type, there are additional theta functions that are not cluster monomials.&nbsp;We characterize these additional theta functions in affine type and compute some of the structure constants for multiplying them.&nbsp;One of the structure constant computations gives new &#8220;imaginary&#8221; exchange relations among cluster variables.&nbsp;The theta functions for vectors in the boundary of the <em>g<\/em>-vector fan span a subalgebra of the cluster algebra that we call the imaginary subalgebra.&nbsp;It is a tensor product of generalized cluster algebras of finite type <em>C<\/em>.<br>This work, joint with Salvatore Stella, is the culmination of a 15-year effort to make cluster algebras of affine type &#8220;well understood&#8221; in the same senses that cluster algebras of finite type are well understood (and that, I believe, all cluster algebras of finite mutation-type eventually will be).&nbsp;Our proofs use tools developed in work with Speyer, with Stella, and most recently with Rupel and Stella, including doubled Cambrian fans, an affine almost-positive roots model, combinatorial models for cluster scattering diagrams of affine type, mutation-symmetries of the exchange matrix, neighboring seeds, and dominance regions.&nbsp;Thus there are &#8220;a lot of moving parts&#8221;, but in this talk I will assume minimal background and try to define each new object up to &#8220;what kind of object it is&#8221;.<br><strong><br>Colleen Robichaux<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Deciding Schubert positivity<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Schubert coefficients count the number of points in a generic intersection of Schubert varieties. Using the framework of computational complexity, we discuss the problem of determining when a given Schubert coefficient is positive. Then we present an algorithmic solution to the Schubert positivity problem and highlight a connection to Polynomial Identity Testing. This is joint work with Igor Pak.<br><br><strong>Anne Schilling<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> <em>q<\/em>-deformations of the Tsetlin library<br><em>Abstract:<\/em>The Tsetlin library is a random shuffling process on permutations of <em>n<\/em> letters, where each letter <em>i<\/em> can be interpreted as a book; book <em>i<\/em> is brought to the front of the bookshelf with an assigned probability <em>x<sub>i<\/sub><\/em>. We define a <em>q<\/em>-deformation of the Tsetlin library by replacing the symmetric group action on permutations by the action of the type <em>A<\/em> Iwahori\u2013Hecke algebra. We compute the stationary distribution and spectrum of this Markov chain by relating it to a Markov chain on complete flags over the finite field vector space \ud835\udd3d<sub><em>q<\/em><\/sub><em><sup>n<\/sup><\/em> and applying techniques from semigroup theory. We prove that for a natural choice of <em>x<sub>i<\/sub><\/em> the total variation distance mixing time of the <em>q<\/em>-Tsetlin library on permutations of <em>n<\/em> is <em>O<\/em>(<em>n<\/em>) compared to \u0398(<em>n<\/em>log<em>n<\/em>) for the Tsetlin library at <em>q<\/em>=1, which demonstrates a phase transition. We also generalize the <em>q<\/em>-Tsetlin library to words (with repeated letters), and compute its stationary distribution and spectrum. This is based on joint work with Arvind Ayyer, Sarah Brauner and Jan de Gier (<a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2601.21195\">https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2601.21195<\/a>).<br><br><strong>George H. Seelinger<\/strong><br><em>Title: <\/em>Flagged LLT polynomials and their applications<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> LLT polynomials are a family of symmetric functions that serve as a <em>q<\/em>-deformation of a product of (skew) Schur functions. They can be defined using tableaux combinatorics and have a surprising way of showing up in many positivity problems in symmetric function theory with connections to representation theory and algebraic geometry. Some notable examples include the shuffle theorem, the Haglund\u2013Haiman\u2013Loehr formula for modified Macdonald polynomials, and a relationship with chromatic symmetric functions associated unit interval orders. Recently, in joint work with Blasiak, Haiman, Morse, and Pun, we develop the theory of a nonsymmetric analogue of LLT polynomials we call flagged LLT polynomials, which can be described combinatorially in terms of certain flagged tableaux. We will survey a few of their nice combinatorial and algebraic properties and discuss how flagged LLTs can be used to give nonsymmetric generalizations of certain results stated with symmetric functions.<br><strong><br>Melissa Sherman-Bennett<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Unexpected toric Richardson varieties<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> This talk focuses on Richardson varieties in the complete flag variety Fl(<em>n<\/em>), which are intersections of a Schubert variety with an opposite Schubert variety. Richardson varieties are indexed by intervals [<em>u<\/em>,<em>v<\/em>] in the Bruhat order on the symmetric group. In joint work with E. Gorsky and S. Kim, we study the question: when is a Richardson variety a toric variety? All Richardson varieties admit an action by an (<em>n<\/em>-1)-dimensional torus <em>T<\/em>, which also acts on Fl(<em>n<\/em>); the Richardson varieties which are toric varieties with respect to <em>T<\/em> were classified independently by Anderson and Tsukerman\u2013Williams. We find that there are many additional toric Richardsons, which we call &#8220;unexpected&#8221;. We give a classification of toric Richardsons using the combinatorics of Bruhat intervals and investigate their moment polytopes.<br><br><strong>Hunter Spink<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> The quasisymmetric flag variety<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Homology classes in the flag variety complete flag variety GL<sub>n<\/sub>\/<em>B<\/em> correspond to linear functionals on the ring of symmetric coinvariants. In this talk I will describe recent work with Nantel Bergeron, Lucas Gagnon, Philippe Nadeau, and Vasu Tewari, on how linear maps between flag varieties corresponding to &#8220;setting variables to zero&#8221; give rise to an unusually combinatorially Schubert positive subvariety of the flag variety \u2014 the &#8220;quasisymmetric flag variety&#8221;.<br><strong><br>Anna Weigandt <\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em>&nbsp;Weak order&nbsp;on alternating sign matrix varieties<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Alternating sign matrices (ASMs) form the MacNeille completion of the strong Bruhat&nbsp;order&nbsp;on the symmetric group.&nbsp;There is a natural interpretation of this poset as the containment&nbsp;order&nbsp;on ASM varieties, which are generalized determinantal ideals.&nbsp;In 2018, Hamaker and Reiner defined&nbsp;weak&nbsp;Bruhat&nbsp;order&nbsp;on ASMs, which when restricted to the symmetric group, is the usual&nbsp;weak order. We initiate a geometric study of&nbsp;weak order&nbsp;on ASMs varieties, focusing on how combinatorial properties of this poset describe geometric properties of ASM varieties.&nbsp;This is joint work with Laura Escobar and Patricia Klein.<br><strong><br>Alex Yong<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> RSK as a linear operator<br><em>Abstract: <\/em>The Robinson\u2013Schensted\u2013Knuth correspondence (RSK) is a bijection between nonnegative integer matrices and pairs of Young tableaux. Viewing RSK as a linear operator on the coordinate ring of matrices leads to questions about its eigenvalues and diagonalizability. We give a diagonalizability criterion involving the <em>ADE<\/em> Dynkin diagrams and <em>E<\/em><sub>9<\/sub>. This is joint work with Ada Stelzer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Graduate student lightning talk abstracts<\/strong>:<br><br><strong>Mackenzie Bookamer<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Springer fibers and connections to Kazhdan\u2013Lusztig theory<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Springer fibers play a key role in geometric representation theory and have deep connections to Kazhdan\u2013Lusztig theory. In this talk, we focus on two-row Springer fibers, where irreducible components are indexed by standard Young tableaux and represented combinatorially with standard non-crossing matchings. We are particularly interested in looking at the intersections of these components, and explore how their geometry reflects the structure of Kazhdan\u2013Lusztig left cells. This talk aims to highlight the interplay between geometry, combinatorics, and representation theory.<br><br><strong>Cameron Chang<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Fence complexes and positroid varieties<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> We describe a polyhedral complex associated to a positroid variety, called fence complexes. The Ehrhart polynomial of these complexes gives the Hilbert polynomial of the positroid variety. Moreover, the fence complexes fit together to give a polyhedral presentation of the regular CW complex structure on the totally nonnegative Grassmannian. This is joint work with Pranav Enugandla and Josephine Hlavinka.<br><br><strong>Ariana Chin<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Classification of Zamolodchikov periodic cluster algebras<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Zamolodchikov periodicity is a property of certain discrete dynamical systems and was one of the primary motivations for the creation of cluster algebras. It was first observed by Zamolodchikov in his study of thermodynamic Bethe ansatz for simply-laced Dynkin diagrams, and was proved by Keller to hold for tensor products of two Dynkin diagrams. More recently, Galashin\u2013Pylyavskyy classified the Zamolodchikov periodic quivers. In this talk, we discuss the classification of all Zamolodchikov periodic cluster algebras, with connections to <em>W<\/em>-graphs, root systems, and maximal green sequences.<br><br><strong>Jack Chou<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> A positive combinatorial formula for the double Edelman\u2013Greene coefficients<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Lam, Lee, and Shimozono introduced the double Stanley symmetric functions in their study of the equivariant geometry of the affine Grassmannian. They proved that the associated double Edelman\u2013Greene coefficients, the double Schur expansion coefficients of these functions, are positive, a result later refined by Anderson. They further asked for a combinatorial proof of this positivity. We provide the first such proof, together with a combinatorial formula that manifests the finer positivity established by Anderson. Our formula is built from two combinatorial models: bumpless pipedreams and increasing chains in the Bruhat order.<br><br><strong>Mike Cummings<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Webs and smooth components of two column Springer fibers<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Webs and Springer fibers are separately important objects in representation theory. Fung&#8217;s 1997 thesis gave the first evidence of a connection between sl<sub>2<\/sub> webs and Springer fibers, showing that webs naturally index and describe the components of certain &#8220;two row&#8221; Springer fibers. However, this case is known to be far from generic. We deepen this connection with a similar correspondence in the substantially more complicated &#8220;two column&#8221; case. In particular, and building on works of Fresse, Melnikov, and Sakas\u2013Obeid, we use webs to give a clean characterization of the smooth components of two column rectangle Springer fibers and a simple description of the geometry of these smooth components.<br><br><strong>Pranav Enugandla<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Clasped web bases from hourglass plabic graphs<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> In the late 90&#8217;s, Kuperberg developed a web basis for the invariant space of tensor products of irreducible modules for SL<sub>2<\/sub> and SL<sub>3<\/sub>, providing a diagrammatic calculus for homomorphism spaces in the representation category. In 2025, a web basis for tensor products of fundamental representations for SL<sub>4<\/sub> was constructed by Gaetz, Pechenik, Pfannerer, Striker, and Swanson using hourglass plabic graphs. I will talk about joint work with Christian Gaetz, in which we extend Kuperberg&#8217;s clasped web bases for invariants of tensor products of arbitrary irreducible SL<sub>4<\/sub> representations.<br><br><strong>Benjamin Grant<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Topologizing infinite quivers and their mutations<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> We offer a topological point of view on countably infinite quivers and quiver mutation sequences. Specifically, we construct several topological spaces whose points are quivers with the natural numbers as vertices and whose topologies are understood via restrictions to certain kinds of subquivers. We show that two of these spaces are homeomorphic to the Baire space, i.e., the space of countable sequences of natural numbers. We also show that mutations provide automorphisms of these spaces, meaning one may view mutations as providing topological dynamics on these spaces. Infinite mutation sequences are also considered; a complete characterization of the density of their domains of convergence\/divergence in one of these spaces is given.<br><br><strong>Soyeon Kim<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Cohomology of open Richardson varieties<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Many important algebraic varieties, such as open subvarieties of the Grassmannian and braid varieties appear to be locally acyclic cluster varieties. Lam and Speyer developed a framework for studying its cohomology. For example, we know that its cohomology has mixed Hodge structure with mixed Tate type, so one can decompose it as a direct sum of the highest weight part <em>H<\/em><sup>p,(p,p)<\/sup> and the lower weight part <em>H<\/em><sup>p,(q,q)<\/sup>. The basis for this highest weight part is pretty well understood and is seemingly related to canonical forms in physics. The lower weight part is more intricate. In my talk, I will describe a basis of <em>H<\/em><sup>4,(3,3)<\/sup> for certain locally acyclic cluster varieties. This is based on ongoing joint work with Tonie Scroggin.<br><br><strong>Tuong Le<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Quantum bumpless pipe dreams<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Schubert polynomials are polynomial representatives of Schubert classes in the cohomology of the complete flag variety and have a rich combinatorial theory. In particular, their monomial expansion is given by a bumpless pipe dream formula. Quantum double Schubert polynomials are polynomial representatives of Schubert classes in the torus-equivariant quantum cohomology of the complete flag variety. In this talk, we will first review the bumpless pipe dreams formula for double Schubert polynomials. Then we will describe a generalization of the bumpless pipe dreams called quantum bumpless pipe dreams, giving a combinatorial formula for quantum double Schubert polynomials as a sum of binomial weights of quantum bumpless pipe dreams.<br><br><strong>Benjamin Liber<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> An equality for balanced digraphs<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Consider a balanced directed multigraph <em>D<\/em>. An <em>s<\/em>-convergence of <em>D<\/em> is an acyclic set of arcs such that every vertex has a path to a specified vertex <em>s<\/em>. We show that for any integer <em>k<\/em>, the number of <em>k<\/em>-element <em>s<\/em>-convergences is independent of the choice of s. This generalizes classical results on spanning arborescences, acyclic orientations, and minimum feedback arc sets. Moreover, we obtain a stronger result by replacing the acyclicity condition with the requirement that the chosen set of arcs has a prescribed set of cycles. This is joint work with Darij Grinberg.<br><br><strong>Thomas C. Martinez<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Affine patches of open positroid varieties<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> What happens when we take an open positroid variety and impose that an additional Pl\u00fccker coordinate is nonzero? In this talk, I will explain how this simple question leads to affine analogues of familiar positroid objects, including affine Deodhar diagrams, affine Richardson links, and punctured plabic graphs. These objects extend the standard positroid story and give new tools for understanding point counts and cluster structure of open positroid varieties.<br><br><strong>Jaewon Min<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Littlewood\u2013Richardson rule of key polynomials<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Littlewood\u2013Richardson coefficients can be computed applying branching rule to Schur polynomials. Generalized into key polynomials, the coefficients are still non-negative integers. In this talk, I will explain why this is true by multiplying particular key polynomials together. This result follows from the work done by A. Joseph and O. Mathieu, related to annihilators and filtrations concerning Demazure modules. The combinatorial description follows from the crystal graphs by M. Kashiwara and G. Lusztig.<br><br><strong>Nutan Nepal<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Induced Lorentzian polynomials<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Suppose one has a party of <em>m<\/em> people, whose expertise collectively covers <em>n<\/em> topics. Given a subset <em>T<\/em> of the topics, one wishes to form a panel of |<em>T<\/em>| people from the party such that <em>T<\/em> can be covered by assigning a distinct topic to each panel member with the expertise. We show that the numbers of such panels, as <em>T<\/em> varies, form a Lorentzian polynomial. We achieve this by showing that a certain linear operator on polynomials, which we call the &#8220;inducing operator&#8221; for its connection to induced (poly)matroids, preserves Lorentzian polynomials and realizable volume polynomials. The talk is based on the joint work with Christopher Eur and Daniel Qin.<br><br><strong>Duy Phan<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Symmetry in equivariant cohomology of P<sup><em>n<\/em><\/sup><br><em>Abstract:<\/em> We resolve a problem of Anderson and Fulton by providing a symmetric and positive product rule for the equivariant cohomology of projective space.<br><br><strong>Zachary Slonim<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Stretched Schubert coefficients are eventually quasi-polynomial<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> For a permutation <em>u<\/em> \u2208 <em>S<sub>n<\/sub><\/em>, let <em>N<\/em>\u2217<em>u<\/em> \u2208 <em>S<\/em><sub>Nn<\/sub> be the permutation with scaled Lehmer code. For given <em>u<\/em>, <em>v<\/em>, <em>w<\/em> \u2208 <em>S<sub>n<\/sub><\/em> and integer <em>N<\/em>, the stretched Schubert coefficients are defined as <em>f<\/em><sub><em>u<\/em>,<em>v<\/em>,<em>w<\/em><\/sub>(<em>N<\/em>) := <em>c<\/em><sub><em>N<\/em>\u2217<em>u<\/em>,<em>N<\/em>\u2217<em>v<\/em><\/sub><sup><em>N<\/em>\u2217<em>w<\/em><\/sup>. Our main result is that the function <em>f<sub>u,v,w<\/sub><\/em>(<em>N<\/em>) is eventually quasi-polynomial. We hope to sketch the ideas of the proof which uses combinatorics of pipe dreams to show that Schubert coefficients are given as an alternating sum of the numbers of integer points in certain polytopes. These polytopes behave nicely under stretching, and we use Ehrhart theory to obtain the result.<br><br><strong>Tanvi Thummar<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> <em>m<\/em> is for meet-congruence<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> Lattice congruences and quotients of the weak order on a finite Coxeter group are a rich source of combinatorial insight. In this talk, we will discuss meet-congruences on semilattices. We show that meet-congruences and meet-quotients play a crucial role in the combinatorics of the <em>m<\/em>-eralized weak order and m-eralized Cambrian lattice associated to a finite Coxeter group. This talk is based on joint work with Nathan Reading.<br><br><strong>Jasper Ty<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Noncommutative key polynomials and Demazure atoms<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> The theory of noncommutative Schur functions provides an unconventional reformulation of Schur positivity for various families of symmetric functions. One cooks up this reformulation via the classical Cauchy identity and a clever shift in perspective. This &#8220;shift&#8221; happens to be agnostic to the Cauchy identity used. For example, in 1999, Lenart used the same approach with a different Cauchy identity to compute the Schubert expansion of Grothendieck polynomials. I will discuss the foundational setup of my current project, which uses Lascoux&#8217;s nonsymmetric Cauchy identity to define noncommutative key polynomials and noncommutative Demazure atoms, both equipped to detect atom positivity and key positivity respectively.<br><br><strong>Sienna Unter<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> A basis for the cone of centrally symmetric generalized permutahedra<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> For a centrally symmetric (CS) projective fan <em>F<\/em>, the CS deformation cone of <em>F<\/em> is the space containing all CS polytopes <em>P<\/em> whose normal fan coarsens <em>F<\/em>. In particular, if <em>F<\/em> is the braid arrangement, the CS deformation cone is the cone of all centrally symmetric generalized permutahedra (CSGP). Notably, CSGP are equivalent to connectivity functions, as defined by Robertson and Seymour in their graph minors project. Under Minkowski summation, a few classes of polytopes are known to form a basis for the cone of generalized permutahedra. Building on this work, this talk will discuss one of the classes of CSGP that form a basis for this CS deformation cone. This is joint work with Spencer Backman.<br><br><strong>Kaitao Xie<\/strong><br><em>Title:<\/em> Total positivity and remarkable polyhedral spaces<br><em>Abstract:<\/em> As a topic in Lie theory, total positivity has found connections to such diverse areas as combinatorics, quantum group, cluster algebra, higher Teichmuller theory, and theoretical physics. Many topological objects in total positivity appear to share some remarkable properties. In this talk, we explore these properties for the twisted flag varieties, double flag varieties, double Bruhat cells of Kac\u2013Moody groups, and the wonderful compactifications of semisimple groups. This is based on some recent joint works with Xuhua He.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Conference schedule (PDF) Conference speaker abstracts: Grant T. BarkleyTitle: Extended weak orderAbstract: Extended weak order is the poset of biclosed sets in a positive root system, introduced by Matthew Dyer. It is an invariant of the underlying Coxeter group W, and contains the weak order on W as an order ideal. There are many open &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/speaker-abstracts\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Speaker Abstracts&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4744,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-75","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75\/revisions\/224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/cmnd2026-thematic-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}