Michael Hopkins : Chern-Weil invariants and abstract homotopy theory

Posted by Brooke Shipley , part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.

At

March 7, 2014, 3 p.m.

In

LCD 005

Abstract

Nature does not come to us with a coordinate system. In writing down the equations describing the evolution of physical systems, it is therefore important that the mathematical entities that arise do not depend on a choice of coordinates. The Chern-Weil invariants are important examples of such entities. In this talk I will explain the Chern-Weil invariants and how one is led by by thinking carefully about them to modern day abstract homotopy theory.

This is also the Department Colloquium this week; note the different room (LCD 005, not the usual SEO 636). Tea in SEO 300 at 4:15pm.