The aim of this biweekly virtual seminar is to develop and strengthen the network of algebraic geometers at predominantly undergraduate institutions. In Spring 2026, it runs on Thursday at 4 - 5 pm (Eastern), 3 - 4 pm (Central), 2 - 3 pm (Mountain), and 1 - 2 pm (Pacific). The current organizers are Han-Bom Moon, Julie Rana, and David Swinarski.
This event is open to everyone, not just faculty at PUIs. If you want to receive a biweekly announcement email, please contact Julie.
The seminar is broadcasted via zoom. Check the announcement emails for the link.
Bring a cup of coffee or tea!
Date: February 5
Speaker: Shamil Asgarli (Santa Clara University)
Title: Blocking sets and plane curves over finite fields
Abstract. Let F_q be a finite field of order q. A subset B of a projective plane over F_q is called a blocking set if every line defined over F_q intersects B. Given an algebraic plane curve C, under what conditions do the F_q-points on C form a blocking set? We show that curves of low degree do not yield blocking sets. As an example of this phenomenon, cubic plane curves do not give rise to blocking sets whenever q > 4. In contrast, we give explicit constructions of smooth plane curves of sufficiently large degree whose F_q-points do form blocking sets. Furthermore, in a precise asymptotic sense, most plane curves over finite fields are not blocking. An interesting direction left open is to determine, for each F_q, the smallest degree of an irreducible plane curve whose F_q-points form a blocking set. This is joint work with Dragos Ghioca and Chi Hoi Yip.
Date: February 26
Speaker: Elizabeth Milicevic (Haverford College)
Title: TBA
Date: March 5
Speaker: Trevor Hyde (Vassar College)
Title: TBA