Workshop Description

The focus of this workshop is on the study of infinite groups, under a variety of contexts, typically involving a geometric or topological flavour. There is a long history of interaction between groups, geometry, and topology (e.g. Dehn's problems on finitely presented groups) leading up to the present day (e.g. use of the work of Wise and others on cube complexes/groups in Agol's Breakthrough Prize work on 3-manifolds). Lately there have been exciting advances in a range of topics, including homeomorphism groups, mapping class groups, 1-relator groups, right-angled Artin groups, and random groups, to name just a few. The goals of this workshop are to bring experts together to disseminate their work, engage in deep discussions on open problems and new directions, and facilitate further developments.

This workshop is named in memory of Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw (1912–2014), who was a mathematician, Lord Mayor of Manchester, politician, and advisor for government on education. Click here to hear a BBC Great Lives episode or click here for more information on her inspiring and remarkable life.