Algebraic statistics is a maturing discipline focused on the applications of algebraic geometry and its computational
tools in the study of statistical models. Initial results in the area were related to specific problems in categorial data analysis and experimental design, however
a flurry of activity during the past several years has greatly increased the scope of the subject. Areas of interest now include graphical models, maximum likelihood estimation and
Bayesian methods. Moreover, a strong connection has developed to applications in the physical and biological sciences. The field draws its tools not only from computational
algebraic geometry but also from tropical, convex, and information geometry. Moreover, research in algebraic statistics has led to new directions in those fields. The workshop
will be a meeting point for students and leaders in the field. It will present a focused activity parallel to the 2008-2009 program on Algebraic Methods in Systems Biology and Statistics being hosted by
the Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute.

A core problem – perhaps the central problem – for improving elementary school mathematics is the mathematical education of elementary teachers. The historic isolation of elementary teachers’ study of mathematics from their pedagogical preparation is increasingly seen to be both unnatural and ineffective. Indeed, the mathematical education of elementary teachers is inherently interdisciplinary as future teachers seek to gain the mathematical knowledge, the pedagogical knowledge and the knowledge of young students that is needed to become a successful mathematics teacher. Thus, it seems reasonable that an integrative learning approach to mathematical education of elementary teachers could yield substantial benefits.

Cultivating diversity and broadening participation of historically underrepresented groups in the mathematical sciences are national goals that are identified by the National Science Foundation as "essential components of the innovation engine that drives the Nation's economy." The goal of this three-day conference is to stimulate, identify, and disseminate successful models that imporve retention of underrepresented groups in graduate programs in mathematics.

This workshop will bring together researchers interested in the topology of stratified spaces. It will focus roughly on four topics: topology of complex varieties, signature theory on singular spaces, L² and intersection cohomology, and mixed Hodge theory and singularities. Aside from talks on current research, there will be a series of introductory lectures on these themes. These talks will be aimed at strengthening the connections among the various topology research groups and the connections between topology researchers and researchers at the program on Analysis of Singular Spaces, running concurrently.

This four-day program will be an introduction to the main themes of the Analysis on Singular Spaces program, geared toward graduate students and postdocs. It will consist of several minicourses, covering topics in
spectral and scattering theory, index theory, and $L²$-cohomology, as well as developing the technical tools needed as background.

This two-day program will consist of a "crash course" in topics in PDE relevant to the Analysis on Singular Spaces main program, and in particular will attempt to get graduate students, postdocs, and even advanced
undergraduates ready for the Introductory Workshop the following week. The focus will be topics in analysis on smooth manifolds whose generalizations to singular spaces will be the focus of the main program.

In recent years, there has been lots of exciting progress in many branches of low-dimensional topology, including Heegard Floer and Khovanov Homology, small 4-Manifolds, TQFT, knot concordance and Lefschetz fibrations. These are the main themes of this workshop whose format will be three one-hour lectures every day, two in the morning and one survey lecture in the afternoon (except for Friday). This survey lecture will be followed by a panel for experts, lead by the afternoon speaker and some other leaders of the field. The panel will discuss current developments and open problems and it can be extended into the late afternoon if so desired by the panelists.