Martin Bridson (University of Oxford)

Title:
Soap films, snowflake discs and annuli: the geometry of decision problems in group theory

Abstract:
Plateau's Problem, rooted in the study of soap films, concerns the nature of discs and minimal surfaces with a given boundary loop.The geometric appeal of such questions contrasts sharply with the technical-sounding study of complexity and decision problems in group theory. I shall explain how insights of Gromov forged powerful links between these two seemingly disparate pursuits, and sketch some highlights of the resulting surge of activity that began in the 1990s, with emphasis on the novel geometries that came to light through the study of Word Problems for groups. I will then describe the state of the art concerning the more delicate and less-understood geometry associated to Conjugacy Problems in group theory.

Schedule:
09:30-11:00 RTG Lecture 1 (Matteo Migliorini), SR. 2.058
11:00-11:30 Get-Together with Speaker, SR. 1.058
11:45-12:45 Colloquium (Martin Bridson), SR. 1.067
13:15 Lunch at Max Rubner Institute | Daily Menu
14:30 Coffee in math building, SR. 1.058
14:45-15:15 Informal meeting of PhD students, Room 1.062
15:15-16:45 RTG Lecture 1 (Matteo Migliorini), SR. 1.067

KA