Report on the 28th ISM Graduate Student Colloquium

The 28th ISM Graduate Student Colloquium was held from May 22 to 24, 2026, at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR).

For three days, participants attended plenary lectures, discovered the work of their colleagues during student presentations, and took part in several social events that provided opportunities to discuss, network, and enjoy the mathematical world beyond the classroom.

The plenary lectures offered a wonderful overview of the diversity of contemporary mathematics, with topics ranging from divergent series to the symmetric group, including optimization in machine learning, ergodic theory, and prime numbers. Many thanks to Christiane Rousseau, Alain Goupil, Courtney Paquette, Antoine Poulin, and Jean-Marie de Koninck for their participation and inspiring presentations.

The student presentations also played a significant role in the program. Participants were treated to presentations on a wide range of topics, from number theory and geometry to algebra, Laplacian spectra, partially ordered sets, and aperiodic structures. Congratulations to all the students who shared their work with us: we were delighted to hear from you and to witness the richness of the projects undertaken by the next generation of mathematicians.

The symposium was also marked by some wonderful social moments. The welcome dinner on Friday, complete with hot dogs, beer, and a math quiz—possibly the highlight of the evening—allowed us to end the first day in a very convivial atmosphere. We’ve even included a photo of the quiz podium, because we wanted to preserve a memento of this great moment of mathematical competition.

Coffee breaks, shared meals, and dinner on Saturday at Gambrinus also provided opportunities for participants to continue their discussions in a warm and welcoming setting. Because a good conference isn’t just about math: it’s also about coffee, lots of coffee, networking, and conversations that go on longer than expected, especially when Saturday night dinner coincides with a hockey game.

The organizing committee would like to thank all the participants, speakers, student presenters, volunteers, and partners who made this event possible. Thank you for helping to make this edition a truly unifying experience for the Quebec math student community.

We’re leaving Trois-Rivières tired, but very happy with this edition. Below are a few photos from the conference! 😊