Spring 2022 Colliquia

March 4, 2022

Lisa Piccirillo (MIT Mathematics Department)  

Knot concordance and 4-manifolds

Time: 3:00 pm   
Location: JCC Medford   
Reception: 4:00 pm   
Abstract: There is a rich interplay between the fields of knot theory and 3- and 4-manifold topology. In this talk, I will describe a weak notion of equivalence for knots called concordance, and highlight some historical and recent connections between knot concordance and the study of 4-manifolds, with a particular emphasis on applications of knot concordance to the construction and detection of small 4-manifolds which admit multiple smooth structures.

Martin Guterman Lecture 2022

April 29, 2022

Grant Sanderson, creator of the 3Blue1Brown YouTube channel

Where Math and Physics Collide

Time: 4:00 pm   
Location: Cohen Auditorium    
Reception: 5:00 pm   
Abstract: The annual Guterman Lecture, made possible through the generosity of the Guterman family, honors the memory of our late colleague Marty Guterman and his extraordinary ability to communicate sophisticated mathematics to broad audiences. This year’s Guterman Lecture is also supported by the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), the Department of Computer Science, and the Department of Education.