Seminar: Automorphisms of Surfaces

Time/Place:  Tuesday 12:30-14:00 in M009 (NOTE CHANGE!)

Topic: Topological surfaces were classified at the end of the 19th century. However the study of their automorphisms (the socalled mapping class group) is important in many branches of mathematics. The work of William Thurston revolutionised the study of surface automorphisms by positing a classification in terms of dynamical properties in ground breaking  work described in his famous Bulletin Article. The objective of this seminar is to explore Thurston's theory starting with the basics of hyperbolic geometry as well as describing important examples illustrating the theory. The picture above shows what happens to a curve under a so-called, click here to see a video taffy puller. See also this paper.

Programme: You can find a list of talks here.

Preliminary Meeting/Vorbesprechung: The organisational meeting will take place in the last week of Semester on Monday 5 February 16:00-17:00  in M 201 (note change!). In case you have questions in the meantime do not hesitate to send me an Email.