European Research Network on Formal Proofs
COST action CA20111
COST logo
EU flag and COST acknowledgement
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.

will take place in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, April 7th-8th 2025, organised by Ekaterina Komendantskaya, Elizabeth Polgreen, Christian Saemann, Kathrin Stark, and Michael Rawson. The event is supported by the Cost Action CA20111 - European Research Network on Formal Proofs.

Aims

Machine learning (ML) has been shown to be very successful in programming and translation tasks, and creates new opportunities combining AI with proofs. Recently, various claims have been made that large language models (LLMs) will revolutionise these areas. However, many questions about the details of the applications of LLMs and their impact on theorem proving and mathematics remain open. At the workshop, we want to bring together researchers from a wide range of communities: mathematics, automated and interactive theorem proving, machine learning, natural language processing, and formal methods, in order to discuss the state-of-the-art and future directions for this new area of research.

Examples of topics that we intend to discuss include, but are not limited to:

  • ML/LLM for Advancing Proof Techniques, e.g., tailoring LLMs to theorem-proving datasets and benchmarks, combining neural networks and symbolic reasoning for robust theorem proving, enabling LLMs to learn proof techniques from minimal data or prior examples.

  • Applications of ML/LLM in Theorem Proving, e.g., designing co-pilot systems for theorem provers like Coq, Lean, or Isabelle, auto-formalising mathematical concepts and proofs from textbooks or research papers, human-machine collaboration workflows in proof construction.

  • Challenges and Limitations of ML/LLM in Theorem Proving, e.g. addressing hallucinations and errors in proofs generated by LLMs, handling large and complex proof spaces with LLM-guided tools, mitigating biases introduced during LLM training on specific mathematical domains.

  • Benchmarks and Evaluation for ML/LLM in Theorem Proving, e.g., creating datasets specifically for evaluating LLM-based theorem proving systems, assessing the interpretability and trustworthiness of LLM-generated proofs, defining success metrics for proof assistance beyond correctness, such as creativity and accessibility.

  • Interdisciplinary Impact of ML/LLM, e.g., leveraging LLMs to teach formal methods, logic, and theorem proving to students, using LLMs to explore conjectures and new areas of mathematical research, applications in formal verification for software, hardware, and systems engineering, including industrial applications.

  • Future Directions for ML/LLM in theorem proving: e.g., the implications of relying on AI systems for critical mathematical proofs, setting open standards for the integration of LLMs in the theorem-proving workflows, speculating on the evolution of LLMs and their roles in formal reasoning.

  • Cross-Domain Connections: e.g., developing user-friendly natural language interfaces for proof assistants, adapting LLM capabilities from general domains to formal logic and proofs.

Schedule

The workshop features 27 contributions, a panel discussion and a poster session. We are proud to have three invited speakers:

  • Formal Mathematical Reasoning: A New Frontier for Large Language Models: Swarat Chaudhuri (UT Austin and Google Deepmind)
  • Machine Learning for Mathematics Research: Sergei Gukov (Caltech & Dublin Inst. Adv. Studies)
  • Machine Learning in Theorem Proving: Josef Urban (CIIRC/CVUT)

A detailed schedule is available via EasyChair.

Registration

We are expecting a large number of participants, and therefore registration is mandatory. Registration is online, and will close on the 12th March 2025 at 1600 UK time.

Workshop Dinner

There is an optional workshop dinner at the Surgeon’s Hall at a cost of £63 per person. You may, if you like, invite an additional guest at extra cost. These options will be available at the time of registration.

Location

Postgraduate Centre Heriot-Watt, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AL, UK. More information about the campus from Heriot-Watt.

Accommodation

  • The only hotel on the HWU campus is the Marriott Courtyard Hotel.
  • If booking accommodation in town, expect travel times of at least 25 minutes.

Dinner

To get to Surgeon’s Hall from Heriot-Watt University, the easiest possibility is to take the 45 or 35 bus.

UK Electronic Travel Authorisation

The UK has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation system. You may need one to enter the UK. From 2nd April, European visitors will also need an ETA. They can apply from the 5th March.

Publication plans

The chairs are investigating the possibility of organising a special journal issue dedicated to the topics of this workshop, at the J. of Annals of Mathematics and AI. Further details will be discussed at the time of the workshop.

Travel Grants

The travel and accommodation of a number of participants (approximately 12) will be supported by the Cost Action CA20111 - European Research Network on Formal Proofs. Applications have now closed.

Further Acknowledgements

We are grateful for support from the following organisations in addition to EuroProofNet.
EPSRC AISEC Heriot-Watt University GAIL Kodamai