Local Connections

Well, Thursday’s meeting was a blast! I had decided not to try to get people to RSVP for the meeting this time, and so when it came down to the day before, I had no idea how many were going to show up. This meant that I had to make some guesses about how much coffee and tea and cookies to organize, which was a little bit of a challenge. But just before 9:00am people began to show up, and kept showing up, and by time I was ready to start off the day’s meeting, there was a really good crowd!

In the end it was a great day, with five really good talks and lots of excellent discussion. Crucially, the various string (and related) theory groups in the area got to connect together again, and refresh links between them, which is an important (to my mind) major aspect of this whole enterprise.

I can’t get over how smoothly it all went, and so thanks to everyone for coming and for making it a success by just being there and taking part. And thanks to the many of you who pitched in and helped me move tables and chairs into position (and then back again), and Tyson, Patty, Lisa, and Mary Beth for key support work behind the scenes.

(In the pictures: Main one at top is of the whole room, during John McGreevy’s talk (we were also joined by a few of the local condensed matter theory group for that one). The one to left is of Vatche Sahakian, in silhouette, giving his talk.

-cvj