What: The pre-seminar is roughly aimed at the level of a generic first year math graduate student, though undergraduates are encouraged to attend. It is frequently used to describe background which will simply be assumed for the main talk. It is also sometimes used to give standard examples or explore special cases of more general results in detail. Of course, the speaker is welcome to discuss anything they deem appropriate.     The pre-seminar is intentionally informal. Questions and digressions are strongly encouraged. Who: Everyone interested in current combinatorics research. Why: To hear about unsolved problems in mathematics. To hear how the tools you already know can be applied. To find a topic for an undergraduate thesis in math. To gain the background knowledge to better understand the Combinatorics and Geometry seminar. When: Almost every Wednesday at 3:30pm-4:00pm during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Where: In PDL C-36 Contact: Jordan Weaver (jeweaver at math.washington.edu)