Overview
The Symplectothon is a weekend-long geometry workshop for researchers of all levels based in the greater Southern California area. Participants will stay together in a large house near Big Bear Lake. There will be a schedule of talks for which participants can sign up, as well as talks from our invited experts on the topic.
This is a great opportunity to learn about an exciting emerging topic in an environment that is engaging and intensive but also low-stakes and fun. It is also a chance to connect geometers across different universities in the greater Southern California area, and to explore new potential research directions and tools.
Topic
Our chosen topic this year is Recent developments in non-exact microlocal sheaf theory. Check back soon for more details, including background reading materials and other resources.
Invited Experts
FAQ
Do I need to already know about this topic?
You certainly do not need to be an expert, as this is meant to be a learning workshop! We will however assume familiarity with the basics of symplectic geometry. We will provide background reading materials and other resources beforehand to help all participants get maximum benefit out of the workshop.
Do I need to give a talk?
This year, a larger portion of the talks will be given by our three invited experts, with fewer talks by other participants. That said, we still encourage you to indicate your interest and availability for giving a talk in the application form.
Who can apply?
Anyone is welcome to apply! Selection will be based on several factors, including how beneficial we think this workshop could be for your career and research.
Do I need to apply?
Yes, please apply if you are interested! Due to space limitations in the house we can only accommodate a certain number of participants.
How do I apply?
The short application form is available here.
Please apply by Friday, April 3, 2026 (11:59pm Pacific) for full consideration.
How will I get there?
Most likely we will rent a few large cars and drive together. Stay tuned for more details.
How can I learn more?
If you have any inquiries, please feel free to send us an email at
kylersiegel@usc.edu or
sheel.ganatra@usc.edu.
Previous Editions
- Symplectothon 2024 — Global Kuranishi charts
- Symplectothon 2022 — Floer theory in symmetric products and Lagrangian link spectral invariants
Funding
This workshop is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant DMS-2533874.