Mock Modular Forms and Physics

Arrivals and pick up

We have arranged for a cab company to pick you up at the airport. When you land in Chennai airport, there will be a person waiting to drive you to the institute/hotel. He will be holding a placard/whiteboard with your name, IMSc and the conference name (Mock-modular forms and physics) written on it. He will be standing just outside as you exit the airport -- there is only one main exit -- (along with a few hundred others, which might be a distraction! so) please do read the cards carefully. In case you cannot find him, please give Sujay a call (number below). You can go to the airport manager’s office to make this cal.

Accommodation

If you are put up at Hotel Ginger, you will be driven there directly. The hotel is located on the eleventh floor of a building inside an IT park (the lobby/reception is on the 11th floor). On all days of the conference, there will be a vehicle to pick you up from the hotel at 8:30am and take you to IMSc. Similarly, after dinner, there will be a vehicle available to take you back to the hotel.

If you are put up at the guest house, you will be driven to the campus. It is a very small campus divided into two parts. On one side is the institute with all the academic buildings. Across the road are the guest house, student hostels, canteens etc (where you will be staying and where you will enter). If you arrive during the day, you can proceed straight to the guest house, sign in the register and pick up your keys from the office on the ground floor. If you arrive late at night, You will need to stop at the gate to sign in and pick up the keys to your rooms.

Weather

Expect hot and humid weather. Temperatures are mid to late 30’s degrees celsius. Please bring some hats (or umbrellas!), sunglasses, and sunscreen, if needed. Try to keep yourselves hydrated at all time.

Water and food

We don't want to make you paranoid, but a few tips that will become second habit if you stay long enough.

Water: If you are only staying for a week or so, we definitely recommend using bottled water for drinking. Bisleri and Aquafina are two reliable names on the water bottles. Sources of unbottled water that may not be obvious: ice that is used in drinks (if you order a lassi, ask for no ice), uncooked food that is not out of a packet etc. On campus, there' s filtered water available almost everywhere (you can see the big filters next to the water outlets) but *the tap water from the bathroom sink is not potable*. You can buy bottled water at the guest house as well as the canteen.

Bad idea: to eat raw salads/cut fruit on the streets. Fruits and vegetables that you peel yourself are totally fine.

Food in the IMSc canteen and in good restaurants should be totally fine. Otherwise, any cooked food/boiled drinks should be fine.

Venue: During the conference, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in the first floor of the guest house.

Lunch and dinner over the weekend: The MatScience canteen will be open from 7:30-9:30 am, 12:45 pm to 2pm and 7:30pm tp 9pm.

Contacts:

Sameer Murthy:89392 66056

Sujay Ashok:99622 40530

Renjan John:86820 61770(M), Office extension: 111

You can make local calls from the guest house phone or you can use the phone at the security gate to make local calls (add 0 to the number in both cases).