IPAM seeks program proposals from the mathematical, statistical, and scientific communities for long programs, workshops, and summer schools. Most program proposals are reviewed at IPAM’s Science Advisory Board meeting, held in November each year. Programs are selected on the basis of their scientific impact and contribution to IPAM’s goals of improving equity, diversity and inclusion in mathematics and other sciences. If you would like to discuss your program ideas and prepare a proposal for IPAM's consideration, you are encouraged to contact the IPAM Director.
Long Programs generally have several complementary streams: one mathematical and one (or more) from other scientific disciplines where there is the potential for a fruitful and exciting interaction. For some programs, the different streams might draw from disparate branches of mathematics. In evaluating proposals, IPAM looks for programs that:
IPAM’s Science Advisory Board makes long program selections approximately 2 years prior to the start of a program.
IPAM runs two long programs in each academic year. Each long program is 14 weeks in duration. The Fall program runs from early September to mid-December; the Spring program runs from early March to mid-June.
A long program opens with tutorials representing the different streams of the program during the first week of the program. This is followed by three or four workshops, each lasting one week, plus a culminating workshop at Lake Arrowhead. The workshops provide an opportunity to bring in a group of experts on several of the most exciting topics in the area of the program.
A substantial number of program participants (“core participants”) stay at IPAM for the length of the program. This diverse group of mathematicians and other scientists nucleate the scientific community that will be built in the course of the program. Core participants represent each stream of the program and include researchers at all career stages. A dozen or more senior scientists from academia or government are essential to provide leadership and mentoring. They are matched by similar numbers of mid-career and early-career researchers, including graduate students. Core participants are selected through an application available on the IPAM web site.
A successful long program proposal should aim to discuss the following topics:
You may also wish to discuss your ideas with the Director, the Deputy Director, or the Associate Director. We are more than happy to provide feedback on drafts of proposals prior to their formal submission.
Long program applications are due on September 30 of each year.