The Midlands Graduate School (MGS) provides an intensive course of lectures on the Mathematical Foundations of Computing. It has run annually since 1999, and is hosted by the Universities of Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, and Sheffield in rotation.

The lectures are aimed at PhD students, typically in their first or second year of study. However, the school is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the mathematical foundations of computing, and in recent years has seen increased participation from industry. We also very much welcome students from abroad.

This is an in-person only event, and registration is now closed.

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Courses

The following courses will be held this time:

Introductory Courses:

• Domain theory and denotational semantics
  Lecturer: Tom de Jong (University of Nottingham), TAs: Joshua Chen and Ayberk Tosun
• Type theory
  Lecturer: Thorsten Altenkirch (University of Nottingham)
• Category theory
  Lecturer: Nicolai Kraus (University of Nottingham), TAs: Tobias Schmude, Bruno da Rocha Paiva, and Stiéphen Pradal

Advanced Courses:

• Computational models of higher categories
  Lecturer: Jamie Vicary (University of Cambridge)
• Homotopy type theory
  Lecturer Eric Finster (University of Birmingham), TA: Jacob Neumann
• String diagrams
  Lecturer: Dan Marsden (University of Nottingham), TA: George Kaye
• Algebraic semantics and verification
  Lecturer: Georg Struth (University of Sheffield)
• Effects and call-by-push-value
  Lecturer: Paul Blain Levy (University of Birmingham)

Timetable

On every day except Wednesday, things are straightforward: all events from 09:00-18:00 are held in the Gisbert Kapp Building (G8 on the Edbaston campus map). The rooms we will use are:

• LT1 — Lecture Theatre 1 (2nd Floor)
• LT2 — Lecture Theatre 2 (2nd Floor)
• N224 — Lecture Room N224 (2nd Floor)
• N225 — Lecture Room N225 (2nd Floor)

On Wednesday, we will be located around the School of Computer Science. The buildings and rooms we will use are:

• CS-LG23 — Computer Science Room LG23 (School of Computer Science, Lower Ground Floor)
• LC-UG05 — Learning Centre Lecture Room UG05 (Murray Learning Centre, Ground Floor)
• LC-UG06 — Learning Centre Lecture Room UG06 (Murray Learning Centre, Ground Floor)
• Y3-G29 — Y3 Lecture Theatre G29 (Y3/Mechanical Engineering Building, Ground Floor)
• H-101 — Haworth Lecture Theatre 101 (Haworth Building, Ground Floor)

There are three social events planned for the conference:

• Saturday 18:00: Welcome Event — The Attic (next to Bournville railway station). MGS has paid for a private space, but will not be funding drinks for this event.
• Monday 19:00: Conference Dinner — Pasta di Piazza (Birmingham City Centre). Registration is now closed.
• Wednesday 18:00: Pizza & Drinks — Computer Science Atrium. Immediately after classes; MGS will provide food and drink.

Participant Talks

On Wednesday morning, nine of our attendees will give talks on their own research, or topics that have recently interested them. This year, we are happy to host the following talks:

Full abstracts will be announced on our Discord server.

Location and Travel

     

MGS 2023 will be held in the Gisbert Kapp building on most days, and around the School of Computer Science on Wednesday.

• Travel instructions to the Gisbert Kapp building.
• Travel instructions to the School of Computer Science.
• University campus map (Gisbertk Kapp = G8, Computer Science = Y9).

Please be aware of rail strikes on Saturday 1st April (which have since been suspended). You may still need to plan accordingly, for example travelling by coach with National Express.

• MyUoB mobile app.
• For internet, use eduroam or WiFiGuest.

Conveniently located hotels include

• Ibis Birmingham New Street Station
• Travelodge Birmingham Central Bull Ring
• Staybridge Suites Birmingham
• Edgbaston Park Hotel

Sponsorship Opportunities

Local organisation

Todd Ambridge
Martin Escardo
Eric Finster
Jamie Hough
Vincent Rahli

Local help

Anna Clee
George Kaye
Yi Miao
Bruno da Rocha Paiva
Tobias Schmude
Yanrong Wang