About the Workshop

  • This workshop’s primary objective is to connect diverse research communities and foster collaboration for the advancement of a compositional theory of decision making. As engineered systems grow in scale, heterogeneity, and interdependence, compositional approaches are becoming essential for principled design, analysis, and control.
  • This workshop is open to participants from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels, and is intended to be accessible to both newcomers and seasoned researchers. Attendees will gain insight into how applied category theory can be used as a practical language for reasoning about complex, interconnected decision-making problems.
  • The program will feature tutorial-style introductions alongside research talks that highlight successful applications of categorical and compositional methods in control, dynamical systems, and networked and multi-agent systems. Distinguished speakers will present concrete tools, modeling frameworks, and case studies demonstrating how these ideas can be deployed in real-world engineering contexts.
  • In addition to showcasing current results, this workshop aims to stimulate discussion around open challenges and emerging directions at the intersection of applied category theory and control, while continuing to build an interdisciplinary community around compositional approaches to decision making.

Speakers

Gioele Zardini

Gioele Zardini

MIT

James Fairbanks

James Fairbanks

University of Florida

Aaron Ames

Aaron Ames

Caltech

Hans Riess

Hans Riess

Georgia Tech

Joe Moeller

Joe Moeller

Caltech

Nikolai Matni

Nikolai Matni

Penn

Workshop Schedule

8:45am - 9:00am 15 min

Introduction

Gioele, Aaron, Fairbanks

Introduction to the workshop and motivation.

9:00am - 9:45am 45 min

Tutorial: Applied Category Theory

Gioele

Abstract

Abstract and slides coming soon...

9:45am - 10:30am 45 min

Tutorial: Applied Sheaf Theory

Hans

Abstract

Abstract and slides coming soon...

10:30am - 11:00am 30min

Coffee Break & Networking

Open Discussion

Networking opportunity and informal discussions.

11:00am - 11:30am 30 min

Category Theory in Control

Aaron

Abstract

Abstract and slides coming soon...

11:30am - 12:00pm 30 min

Control Coalgebras and Barrier Morphisms

Joe

Abstract

Abstract and slides coming soon...

12:00pm - 12:30pm 30 min

Compositional Design of Layered Control Architectures

Nikolai

Abstract

Abstract and slides coming soon...

12:30pm - 1:00pm 30 min

Compositional Design of Networked Systems

James

Abstract

Abstract and slides coming soon...

Recommended Reading

Applied Category Theory for Engineering

Andrea Censi, Jonathan Lorand, Gioele Zardini

2024

Comprehensive guide to applying categorical methods in engineering systems.

Read Book

Seven Sketches in Compositionality

Brendan Fong, David Spivak

2018

An invitation to applied category theory with practical examples and exercises.

Read Book