I am invited to give a plenary talk at the 6th Austrian Day of Women in Mathematics on February 27, 2026.

The boundaries of mathematics: infinite games and very large sets

The independence phenomenon is a central theme in set theory and more generally in mathematics. Starting from the Continuum Problem, there are numerous statements in various areas of mathematics that can neither be proven nor disproven in the usual axiomatic framework given by the Zermelo Fraenkel Axioms. The most promising approach to attack this issue is by studying extensions of the usual axiomatic framework, their connections, and their impact on previously independent statements. Two famous examples in set theory are the hierarchies given by the determinacy of infinite two-player games and large cardinals. The deep connection between these two hierarchies forms the backbone of inner model theory. We outline this connection and discuss recent progress as well as important open questions in the area.