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Jonel Ganalon (Jun 16 2026 at 18:12):Hello, everyone. I am not sure if this is the right channel but I have just joins the chat. This is wonderful space in the internet albeit having limited knowledge yet to know most of the conversation here --- I hope I can learn here. Thank you so much for the link.
I am a Computer Science student and I am exploring topics for my thesis. I had interest in reversible programming and I have already decided to dive into that topic. I discovered it when I was trying to find topic that addresses environmental issues and computing.
Then, I discovered about category theory. I am liking it so far but I am still new to it. I am reading books on category theory written for computer scientists first. I enjoy writing proofs but I lack rigour. I plan to improve it before I start my thesis.
I have discovered papers on using category theory to model reversible computstions using daggers and inverse arrows. This motivated me to further delve into it.
I have also read the paper of V. Dwarka about implementing reversible algebra kernels in floating point arithmetic using python. One of its recommendations is extending it to sparse nmatrix vector products, multigrid, and fast transforms. I thought of following that by using category theory and Haskell. Category theory is about composition and so I thought if we could compose smaller reversible programs to create a complex system (like in doing scientific computations) that is also reversible. I believe that the reversible programs implemented in V. Dwarka cannot be composed and we need then to rewrite another reversible program that uses those said programs as like modules.
I would like to receive feedback on that idea and if it is a worthy question to research. I haven't decided for an adviser yet in our department but I have low hopes of receiving an educated and helpful comment. So, I'm here.
Kevin Carlson (Jun 16 2026 at 22:01):Hi Jonal, is this for a Ph.D. thesis? I'd suggest that trying to assess a thesis topic before getting at least closer to choosing an advisor isn't likely to work very well. Most advisers will only advise a thesis quite close to their specific interests. You'll need to be able to converse with them at great length and in great detail about your work, and you'll need far more guidance towards constructing a good topic than can possibly be given in this setting.
Jonel Ganalon (Jun 16 2026 at 22:09):Hello Sir Kevin, thank you for replying. I'm still an underground. That's what I thought too.