Workshop Organizers: Anna Ijjas (Columbia), Frans Pretorius (Princeton), Paul J. Steinhardt (Princeton-PCTS)

This workshop will focus on modifications of Einstein gravity at high (but sub-Planckian) energy densities that would influence the dynamics and evolutionary history of the early universe. Of particular interest are a variety of recent proposals for avoiding the cosmological singularity by stably violating the null energy condition while remaining in the regime of validity of classical field theories. Understanding these approaches requires the development of new ideas, new analytical tools, and new numerical techniques. The goal is to bring together leading experts in cosmology and general relativity to explore these ideas.

There will be one three day workshop in January 2018.

There will also be several individual lectures on related topics. These are by invitation only.

Harvey Reall-October 6, 2017

Jean-Luc Lehners-November 10, 2017

Surjeet Rajandran-December 8, 2017