Welcome to Combinatorics and Optimization

The C&O department has 33 faculty members and 60 graduate students. We are intensely research oriented and hold a strong international reputation in each of our six major areas:

Read more about the department's research to learn of our contributions to the world of mathematics!

TUTTE'S DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES

News

May 23, 2022Ian Goulden named Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Ian Goulden from the Department of Combinatorics and Optimization has been named Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of Waterloo, in recognition of his decades of scholarly excellence, outstanding pedagogy and service to the university that went above and beyond the call.
May 20, 2022Sophie Spirkl wins Early Researcher Award

Sophie Spirkl, an assistant professor in combinatorics and optimization, was named among this year’s winners of the Early Researcher Award.
May 20, 2022Chaitanya Swamy awarded University Research Chair

A researcher in the Department of Combinatorics and Optimization is among the latest winners of a University Research Chair.

Awarded by the Office of the Provost, a University Research Chair recognizes exceptional achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge.

Read all news

Events

May 24 to 27, 2022Combinatorial and Algebraic Enumeration

A celebration of Goulden and Jackson's combined 90 years of insight and inspiration that have shaped the fields of algebraic and combinatorial enumeration.

Registration

To register, click here.
May 26, 2022Cryptography Reading Group - Dinesh Valluri
Title: Faster Algorithms for Isogeny Problems using Torsion Point Images.

Speaker: Dinesh Valluri
Affiliation: University of Waterloo
Attend: Contact Jesse Elliott
Abstract:

In this talk, we will discuss cryptanalysis of some SIDH-type protocols due to Christophe Petit: https://eprint.iacr.org/2017/571.pdf. While finding isogenies between supersingular elliptic curves remains computationally hard to solve, knowledge of images of specific torsion points by the unknown isogeny helps build faster attacks.
May 27, 2022Tutte Colloquium - Ian Goulden & David Jackson
Title: Early Work

Speaker: Ian Goulden
Affiliation: University of Waterloo
Location: QNC 0101 or please contact Emma Watson for Zoom link
Abstract:

I will talk briefly and informally about my work in the last century.

Title: At It and In It

Speaker: David Jackson
Affiliation: University of Waterloo
Location: QNC 0101 or please contact Emma Watson for Zoom link
Abstract:

I have selected seven Research Themes to talk about very briefly and informally. They are reflections upon key moments and surprising revelations over the past forty years.