[FOM] CfP: The Notion of Proof

[Mr Jesse Adam Alama]

CICM 2014 workshop "The Notion of Proof"
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Date: July 7-11, 2014 (one day within that range; precise date to be
determined later)

Location: University of Coimbra (Portugal)

Homepage: http://cicm-conference.org/2014/cicm.php?event=nop&menu=general

Part of the Conference on Intelligent Mathematics (CICM) 2014:

  http://cicm-conference.org/2014/cicm.php

Description
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We have already witnessed the moment where chess-playing computers
have surpassed humans. It might seem to be only a matter of time that
computers will also surpass humans in mathematical theorem proving. In
fact, the traditional notion of mathematical proof faces in the 21st
century what we will call "the computer challenge". Three different
aspects are worth separating:

* proof search;
* proof check;
* proof representation.

Proof search has its known limitations due to undecidability and
complexity results. However, special areas, such as semigroup theory,
already enjoy considerable support from computer-generated proofs.
Proof check is recently the "hottest" area, in no small part due to
the attempt to formally verify the proof of the Kepler conjecture by
its author Hales.  Proof representation seems currently be the
stumbling block for convincing the mathematical community to accept
computer-aided theorem proving as a viable complement to everyday
mathematical research.

For our workshop we solicit contributions for discussions about the
current state-of-the-art of automated theorem proving (ATP),
approaching the topic from the mathematical (or even philosophical)
side, as well as from computer science.  In addition to standard
scientific/philosophical papers, descriptions and demonstrations of
computer systems that bear on these issues are also welcome.  Special
focus is put on the last two items mentioned above, addressing the
more concrete questions:

* How, and to what extent, can (or will) proof checking convince the
  mathematical community from the correctness of a proof?

* Does computer generated proof representations match with our
  intuitive notion of mathematical proof?

The answers to both question should give us a deeper insight in the
challenges and tasks for mathematical proofs and computer-aided
theorem proving in the 21st century.

Important dates
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May 20: Submission deadline
May 31: Author notification
July 7-11: CICM 2014
July 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11: Workshop

A precise date for the workshop is not yet known, but it will be held
on one of the days of CICM 2014 (which runs July 7-11).

Invited speakers
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* Freek Wiedijk (Radboud University Nijmegen)

Organizers
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- Jesse Alama
  Theory and Logic Group
  Technical University of Vienna
  alama at logic.at

- Reinhard Kahle
  Center for Artificial Intelligence / Department of Mathematics
  New University of Lisbon
  kahle at mat.uc.pt

Submission
----------

Contributors can submit a 1-2 page abstract with Easychair at the

  https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=nop2014

Submissions will be selected for presentation by the organizers with
the possible assistance of external reviewers, as warranted.

Publication
-----------

If the quality of the contributions warrants it, we intend to invite
contributors to expand their abstracts/talks into more complete papers.

Format
----------

Our workshop will last one day.  We will begin with our invited talk,
and the remainder of the time will be contributed talks, of which we
are aiming for 6-8.  At the end of the day an open discussion, led by
the organizers, will synthesize what has been presented.