𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
@mahdi.ch
Theoretical Computer Science professor @ U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Opinions are mine and may evolve over time.
repost ≠ endorsement.
Policy: I don't interact with anonymous profiles.
Join AAUP.
he/him/his.
Opinions are mine and may evolve over time.
repost ≠ endorsement.
Policy: I don't interact with anonymous profiles.
Join AAUP.
he/him/his.
Pinned
𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
@mahdi.ch
· Nov 10
Computational Complexity Conference
computationalcomplexity.org
The inaugural Computational Complexity Conference Test of Time Award seeks nominations (deadline Monday, March 2, 2026). Help us select an awesome paper for this award!
computationalcomplexity.org/tot/tot26.html
computationalcomplexity.org/tot/tot26.html
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
The info and slides of the 18 🎓 "Graduating Bits" participants are now available on the website!
Look at them, hire them!
focs.computer.org/2025/graduat...
Look at them, hire them!
focs.computer.org/2025/graduat...
Graduating Bits – FOCS 2025
focs.computer.org
December 16, 2025 at 4:07 AM
The info and slides of the 18 🎓 "Graduating Bits" participants are now available on the website!
Look at them, hire them!
focs.computer.org/2025/graduat...
Look at them, hire them!
focs.computer.org/2025/graduat...
Best category of FOCS awards 👌😅
Winners of the #FOCS2025 Cartoon Caption Contest:
- "This guy is about to blow up the polynomial hierarchy." [ Rachel Zhang ]
- "Not exactly what I meant by 'increase FOCS acceptance rate.'" [ @mahdi.ch ]
- "This guy is about to blow up the polynomial hierarchy." [ Rachel Zhang ]
- "Not exactly what I meant by 'increase FOCS acceptance rate.'" [ @mahdi.ch ]
The conference is starting in a few hours! We'll post here information about #FOCS2025 as it goes, including the blog posts attendees write about the talks and events.
And the "cartoon caption contest" (courtesy of Mary Wootters) has started, along with the offline scavenger hunt! Here's a teaser:
And the "cartoon caption contest" (courtesy of Mary Wootters) has started, along with the offline scavenger hunt! Here's a teaser:
December 15, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Best category of FOCS awards 👌😅
Absolutely disgusting and (currently) illegal move by Purdue University, banning ALL graduate students from China, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea.
Purdue faculty need to protest to stop this immediately.
Fun fact: Purdue's President is Chinese.
www.purdueexponent.org/campus/featu...
Purdue faculty need to protest to stop this immediately.
Fun fact: Purdue's President is Chinese.
www.purdueexponent.org/campus/featu...
Purdue reportedly directs admissions to reject students from list of 'dangerous countries'
Admissions departments in the schools of engineering, college of liberal arts, and science have reportedly been directed not to accept students from certain countries. This directive comes after a let...
www.purdueexponent.org
December 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Absolutely disgusting and (currently) illegal move by Purdue University, banning ALL graduate students from China, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea.
Purdue faculty need to protest to stop this immediately.
Fun fact: Purdue's President is Chinese.
www.purdueexponent.org/campus/featu...
Purdue faculty need to protest to stop this immediately.
Fun fact: Purdue's President is Chinese.
www.purdueexponent.org/campus/featu...
The inaugural Computational Complexity Conference Test of Time Award seeks nominations (deadline Monday, March 2, 2026). Help us select an awesome paper for this award!
computationalcomplexity.org/tot/tot26.html
computationalcomplexity.org/tot/tot26.html
Computational Complexity Conference
computationalcomplexity.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The inaugural Computational Complexity Conference Test of Time Award seeks nominations (deadline Monday, March 2, 2026). Help us select an awesome paper for this award!
computationalcomplexity.org/tot/tot26.html
computationalcomplexity.org/tot/tot26.html
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
“This report underscore[s] how the Civil Rights Act of 1964—which passed in response to years of nonviolent civil disobedience against racial injustice—is being misused to squash political dissent & speech that advocates for the human rights of Palestinians.”
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
Most Campus 'Antisemitism' Probes Target Criticism of Israel, Not Anti-Jewish Hate: Report | Common Dreams
A new report details how, under both Biden and Trump, pro-Israel groups silenced criticism of Israel on US campuses, equating it with antisemitism.
www.commondreams.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
“This report underscore[s] how the Civil Rights Act of 1964—which passed in response to years of nonviolent civil disobedience against racial injustice—is being misused to squash political dissent & speech that advocates for the human rights of Palestinians.”
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
Avi Wigderson's Clay Math talk on the P vs NP problem, marking 25 years since the Millennium Prize Problems were formulated.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX9i...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX9i...
Avi Wigderson, P vs NP
YouTube video by Clay Mathematics Institute
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Avi Wigderson's Clay Math talk on the P vs NP problem, marking 25 years since the Millennium Prize Problems were formulated.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX9i...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX9i...
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
🚨 I am co-chairing ALT 2026 this year with Matus Telgarsky. The submission server is open so please submit your best work!
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
ALT 2026 | ALT 2026 Homepage
The 37th International Conference on Algorithmic Learning Theory
algorithmiclearningtheory.org
September 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
🚨 I am co-chairing ALT 2026 this year with Matus Telgarsky. The submission server is open so please submit your best work!
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
The best move in chess isn't a function of only the current position because whether or not you can castle, capture by en passant, or draw by repetition/50 moves depends on what happened in the past.
August 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
The best move in chess isn't a function of only the current position because whether or not you can castle, capture by en passant, or draw by repetition/50 moves depends on what happened in the past.
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
The announcement from the University of Michigan that they will no longer provide their transgender patients with all of the healthcare options available is shameful, dangerous, and potentially illegal.
www.freep.com/story/news/h...
www.freep.com/story/news/h...
Michigan AG: U-M 'cowardly' for halting gender-affirming care for trans young people
Michigan AG Dana Nessel says University of Michigan decision to stop gender-affirming care for young people may be illegal.
www.freep.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:54 PM
The announcement from the University of Michigan that they will no longer provide their transgender patients with all of the healthcare options available is shameful, dangerous, and potentially illegal.
www.freep.com/story/news/h...
www.freep.com/story/news/h...
Seriously, why doesn’t this platform have a bookmark feature? What’s the big mystery?
July 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Seriously, why doesn’t this platform have a bookmark feature? What’s the big mystery?
Registration is open for CCC 2025 in Toronto. Early registration until July 25: computationalcomplexity.org/Archive/2025...
CCC'25 Local Arrangments
computationalcomplexity.org
July 16, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Registration is open for CCC 2025 in Toronto. Early registration until July 25: computationalcomplexity.org/Archive/2025...
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
cant believe that this response from a sitting member of Congress from Florida, to one of his Dem colleagues, is real
July 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
cant believe that this response from a sitting member of Congress from Florida, to one of his Dem colleagues, is real
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
June 28, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
This year TCS for All Inspiration talk will be given by Sofya Raskhodnikova, Boston University on June 27th at our STOC 2025 TCS for All Meeting. Join us. We are relocating the TCS for All Rising Star Workshop to FOCS 2025 this year. Stay tuned. SIGACT.org/tcsforall/
#stoc2025 @ccanonne.github.io
#stoc2025 @ccanonne.github.io
TCS for All
Theoretical Computer Science without Barriers
SIGACT.org
June 18, 2025 at 2:33 AM
This year TCS for All Inspiration talk will be given by Sofya Raskhodnikova, Boston University on June 27th at our STOC 2025 TCS for All Meeting. Join us. We are relocating the TCS for All Rising Star Workshop to FOCS 2025 this year. Stay tuned. SIGACT.org/tcsforall/
#stoc2025 @ccanonne.github.io
#stoc2025 @ccanonne.github.io
Happening now!
As part of STOC 2025 we'll be hosting an online poster session at the conference (6/23, 6-7pm local time). Our hope is that people who cannot come in person to attend STOC can still join in the festivities for a while, either as presenters or participants. Details below:
acm-stoc.org/stoc2025/cal...
acm-stoc.org/stoc2025/cal...
STOC 2025 Online Poster Session
acm-stoc.org
June 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Happening now!
Grounds for impeachment but let’s continue doing nothing and see the world end.
AOC: “It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”
June 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Grounds for impeachment but let’s continue doing nothing and see the world end.
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
Netanyahu Calls Iran Strikes Necessary To Prevent War He Just Started
June 13, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Netanyahu Calls Iran Strikes Necessary To Prevent War He Just Started
Speaking to my parents in Iran right now, and could hear the bombs being dropped on them in the background. Hope that helps the armchair experts on the internet.
June 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Speaking to my parents in Iran right now, and could hear the bombs being dropped on them in the background. Hope that helps the armchair experts on the internet.
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
Spread the word: there is a new prize in Theoretical Computer Science in honor of Luca Trevisan--
cs.unibocconi.eu/call-nominat...
(Intent-to-nominate letters due by July 31.)
cs.unibocconi.eu/call-nominat...
(Intent-to-nominate letters due by July 31.)
cs.unibocconi.eu
June 9, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Spread the word: there is a new prize in Theoretical Computer Science in honor of Luca Trevisan--
cs.unibocconi.eu/call-nominat...
(Intent-to-nominate letters due by July 31.)
cs.unibocconi.eu/call-nominat...
(Intent-to-nominate letters due by July 31.)
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
"My name is Greta Thunberg and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel."
June 9, 2025 at 12:52 AM
"My name is Greta Thunberg and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel."
Disgusting abomination
The Guardian broke the story about excessive surveillance on U Michigan’s campus (thousands of surveillance cameras, undercover cops trailing students, drones over public squares).
U-M regents approved spending for cops/cameras and ignored our complaint in the May Faculty Governance report.
U-M regents approved spending for cops/cameras and ignored our complaint in the May Faculty Governance report.
June 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Disgusting abomination
As part of STOC 2025 we'll be hosting an online poster session at the conference (6/23, 6-7pm local time). Our hope is that people who cannot come in person to attend STOC can still join in the festivities for a while, either as presenters or participants. Details below:
acm-stoc.org/stoc2025/cal...
acm-stoc.org/stoc2025/cal...
STOC 2025 Online Poster Session
acm-stoc.org
June 4, 2025 at 12:11 AM
As part of STOC 2025 we'll be hosting an online poster session at the conference (6/23, 6-7pm local time). Our hope is that people who cannot come in person to attend STOC can still join in the festivities for a while, either as presenters or participants. Details below:
acm-stoc.org/stoc2025/cal...
acm-stoc.org/stoc2025/cal...
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
Disastrous news for graduate education in the US.
They're terminating OPT.
Today the nominee to head USCIS stated directly: he will end Optional Practical Training, the single largest channel for high-skill immigrants to work in the US.
6 weeks ago I warned about this & summarized the research on impacts of this drastic action—> @piie.com
Today the nominee to head USCIS stated directly: he will end Optional Practical Training, the single largest channel for high-skill immigrants to work in the US.
6 weeks ago I warned about this & summarized the research on impacts of this drastic action—> @piie.com
Skilled immigration on the chopping block? Effects of eliminating "Optional Practical Training" in the US
The White House has taken numerous steps to sharply reduce the number of immigrant workers, with or without legal status, in the US economy. These policies, so far, typically target immigrants with le...
www.piie.com
May 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Disastrous news for graduate education in the US.
Reposted by 𝖬𝖺𝗁𝖽𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖼𝗁𝗂
Congratulations to Ilias Diakonikolas, who received the Grace Murray Hopper award!
awards.acm.org/award-recipi...
This is for his contributions to the field of algorithmic robust statistics: "new techniques to robustly estimate high-dimensional distributions" (and algorithmic applications)!
awards.acm.org/award-recipi...
This is for his contributions to the field of algorithmic robust statistics: "new techniques to robustly estimate high-dimensional distributions" (and algorithmic applications)!
Ilias Diakonikolas
ACM Award Recipient page
awards.acm.org
May 21, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Congratulations to Ilias Diakonikolas, who received the Grace Murray Hopper award!
awards.acm.org/award-recipi...
This is for his contributions to the field of algorithmic robust statistics: "new techniques to robustly estimate high-dimensional distributions" (and algorithmic applications)!
awards.acm.org/award-recipi...
This is for his contributions to the field of algorithmic robust statistics: "new techniques to robustly estimate high-dimensional distributions" (and algorithmic applications)!