Conference: Macaulay2 at Auburn University

This award provides support for participation in an intensive Macaulay2 software development workshop that will be held from February 22-26, 2027 at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Macaulay2 is a leading computer algebra system supporting research in commutative algebra, algebraic geometry, and adjacent mathematical areas. The software—cited in thousands of research publications—plays a role in advancing the state of mathematical knowledge, enabling computer experimentation in highly abstract fields. Macaulay2 is open source and largely relies on researchers to extend its functionality by contributing their own code in the form of software packages. The goals of the workshop are to develop new packages, enhance the performance and usability existing packages, and train a new generation of mathematical scientists in developing high-quality Macaulay2 software. Most of the workshop will be devoted to collaborative programming efforts: Small groups of participants will work together to develop new Macaulay2 functionality involving computations in commutative algebra and (numerical) algebraic geometry. The project leaders, who will oversee and direct the teams, are experts in a variety of topics in these fields, including derived categories, free resolutions, homotopy continuation, toric geometry, and tensor decomposition. The workshop will also feature a tutorial on using version control software to collaborate on software development, a session of short “lightning” talks intended to give early-career mathematicians a venue to share their research, and an evening social event that will provide participants an opportunity to network and discuss their research. The conference website can be found here: https://johndcobb.github.io/organizing/M2atAuburn/. 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.