Interactions of Geometry and Topology in dimensions 3 and 4 (09w5095)
Organizers
Denis Auroux (University of California, Berkeley)
Hans Boden (McMaster University)
Olivier Collin (Université du Quebec à Montréal)
John Etnyre (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Description
This workshop will highlight new results in low-dimensional topology coming from geometric methods. Low-dimensional topology refers to the study of manifolds in dimensions 3 and 4. These are objects that can often be visualized or adequately represented, including 3-dimensional space and 4-dimensional space-time. Ironically these are the more challenging dimensions to topologists and while algebraic techniques play the decisive role for higher dimensional manifolds, the study of manifolds in low dimensions involves combining a variety of different approaches. Many of the techniques are geometric in nature and the powerful invariants that have been developed over the last 20 years have their roots in theoretical physics. They have substantially helped topologists to understand the shape of low-dimensional spaces and knotted objects sitting in them. The workshop will host leading experts from around the world and feature new discoveries in the area using the interplay between
The sophisticated mathematical invariants coming from gauge theory and contact /symplectic geometry, and clever new cut-and-paste constructions on manifolds. This event is organized by Professors Denis Auroux of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hans Boden of McMaster University, Olivier Collin of Universite du Quebec a Montreal, and John Etnyre of Georgia Institute of Technology.
The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).
