Welcome. I do research in mathematical computer science. I'm known for inventing nominal techniques, based on the Gabbay-Pitts model of naming and abstraction provided by Fraenkel-Mostowski set theory.
I also take photographs and do other stuff (see the site map on the right). Here are some quick links:

For anything else, just look around.

Personal details

Name: Everybody calls me Jamie.
E-mail: murdoch.gabbay at gmail com
Mobile phone: +44 (0)7917 124462
What I look like:: Passport photo.; 70s photo.; Cosmopolitan photo (large).

You can find more about me here.

Swedish Chef

For your convenience, my homepage is also available in Swedish Chef (what's that?).

Photos

I am a keen photographer. I take urban and scenic photographs of people, landscapes, animals, insects, architecture — and anything else that reflects or generates light. I travel, and I always have my camera with me.

At the beginning of 2007 I bought myself a Nikon D80 with the Nikkor 18-200 VR lens, and two Canon 500D close-up (macro) lenses. This combination is particularly useful for the kind of thing I do: I don't travel to photograph (I travel to do research) so I don't want to carry a ton of kit — but I do photograph while travelling. Take a look through my viewfinder.

Until 2007 I used a Ricoh Caplio R4 — an exquisite little point-and-shoot, for its time. I learnt a lot and a set of portraits, landscapes, macro shots, from my travels are online.

Blog

I keep a miscellanea of opinions online.

Summary

I work in theoretical mathematical computer science. I use first-order logic, algebra, lambda-calculus, and semantics — especially sets and set theory — to study foundational and theoretical issues about the mathematics of programming.
I'm known for inventing nominal techniques, based on the Gabbay-Pitts model of naming and abstraction provided by Fraenkel-Mostowski set theory.
The work was initially with Andrew Pitts; then Mark Shinwell, Christian Urban, and James Cheney joined in. The field has since expanded and I'm happy and proud to say that I now regularly come across (and review papers by) new people who are using these ‘nominal’ ideas. I am always happy to comment on such work and collaborate so if you're thinking of doing something along these lines, get in touch.
You may find LaTeX to typeset the Gabbay-Pitts NEW quantifier useful. Also see my publications and my academic talks.

Papers

I love writing maths papers; you can find my publications (with bibtex) here.

Talks

I have given academic talks on mathematics and theoretical computer science in universities and research institutes all over the world. Slides are online, and for the recent ones also videos.

By the way, I found this guide to the treatment of invited speaker (sic) in the common-room of the Central Tungus Plateau University (Okrug campus), Siberia. You may find it useful.

Classification codes

I am not a number — but if I were:

ACM Computing Classification System (1998): F.4.1 Mathematical Logic
UNESCO subject classification codes (Spanish).: 1102 Lógica deductiva

The Gabbay-Pitts NEW quantifier

A logic quantifier giving a mathematical meaning to ‘for a fresh name’. It is based on the semantics for names and binding from my thesis and LICS'99 paper and forms the basis of nominal logic. Here is LaTeX code for typesetting it.

Keywords ...

... of some things I have worked on, in no particular order.

Nominal rewriting and unification.

Nominal algebra.

Fraenkel-mostowski set theory and models thereof.

The NEW quantifier (here you can cut-and-paste some LaTeX to typeset it).

Nominal logic, first-order logic, higher-order logic.

The NEW calculus of contexts and the lambda context calculus.

Restart.

a-logic.

`Scripts$`

Sometimes I remember that computers are supposed to save labour as well as create employment for mathematicians. Then I write a computer script.

Academic activities

A summary of what I have published, where I have been, who I have worked with, and what journals and conferences I have been a referee or written a review for, then this list might help.

2006

2005

Tasting notes

I like alcohol, especially strong beers and malt whisky. I keep some tasting notes online.

Jewish festivals

Be good, avoid scheduling events on Shabbat, Rosh Hasanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukkah, Purim, and Passover.

Introduction to Jewish holidays,: Information about the traditions behind Jewish holidays (not a calendar).
Holiday dates for the next five years.: A list, with dates in both the hebrew and western calendars, of the major holidays.
2007, 2008.: Dates (western calendar).
5766-5767, 5767-5768.: Dates (hebrew calendar).

(Links from Philip Wadler's homepage.)

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I keep a miscellanea of things I approve of, disapprove of, or am shocked by.

Hall of fame

I keep a hall of fame for programs which changed my life.

Murdoch James Gabbay

Site map

Advertisement