About

Programming Languages, Semantics, Logic (a.k.a. PLSL /ˈpləs-əl/) is the reading group of the ACP section, which is part of IMADA at the University of Southern Denmark.

Inspired by LaPRaS at Imperial College, the members of the group learn about the common logical core behind various research topics in the field of programming languages (PL). While the group is tailored around the needs of PhD candidates, motivated M.Sc. students and lecturers are also welcome! Please contact us in advance if you would like to join for the first time.

Goal

PLSL is here to provide participants with a preparation solid enough to be reapplied in a research setting. PLSL is the course that was neither offered by your M.Sc. programme, nor is currently available in your PhD programme. If you are just looking for a quick impression of what ACP researchers have been working on, or need to rehearse your presentation, please consider attending the ACP seminar.

Topics

PLSL is mainly concerned with tools from logic and semantics that enable us to understand PL better. Grasping these notions can sometimes be very hard, and SDU offers few courses on these topics, so some ACP PhD students voiced the need for such a focus. If you want a more global overview of all topics the ACP section works on, please consider attending the ACP seminar.

Format

The reading group meets fortnightly. Every two weeks:

  1. A reading assignment is posted on the homepage of this website.
  2. Participants read the content before the meeting. They send questions and observations to the PLSL space.
  3. During the meeting, which is in a hybrid format, if necessary, participants discuss the questions and observations together. The organisers work as moderators, and expert supervisors may be present to help tackle the most complex topics.
  4. At the end of the meeting, participants decide on a reading assignment for the subsequent cycle.

Organisers

PLSL is organised by ACP’s PhD students at the University of Southern Denmark. Here is their contact information.

2025-26

The following are the original volunteers behind PLSL.

  • Marco Santamaria
  • Viktor Strate Kløvedal
  • Stefano Volpe