An Introduction to Topology & Geometry, Applications, and NSF Funding Opportunities for Students

Abstract: Research level mathematics comes in many different flavors. Topology is a branch of mathematics concerned with a study of flexible shapes. Topological methods are not only useful in mathematics, but they have fascinated scientists since the 1800s. The 2016 Nobel prize in Physics was awarded to three physicists who used topological notions to study phases of matter such as superconductivity and suprafluidity. In this talk, we will introduce some basic concepts from geometry and topology through diagrams and informal explanations, and mention some applications. The talk should be accessible to undergraduate students who have studied Calculus. In the second half of this talk, we will present an overview of NSF opportunities for students.

Mathematics

Audience: general audience

VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Colloquium Series

Series comments: A series of public lectures in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics from Virginia Commonwealth University.

To attend virtually, please connect via Zoom using the following coordinates:

Zoom Meeting ID: 822 7853 4531 Password: VCUMATH101