# GSCAGT

#### June 2-3, 2018

This conference aims to expose graduate students in algebra, geometry, and topology to current research, and provide them with an opportunity to present and discuss their own research. It also intends to provide a forum for graduate students to engage with each other as well as expert faculty members in their areas of research. Most of the talks at the conference will be given by graduate students, with four given by distinguished keynote speakers.

This event is sponsored by the Department of Mathematics at Temple University and is pending sponsorship from the NSF.

View the conference poster here.

### Keynote Speakers

• #### Daniel Krashen   (University of Georgia)

• (Title and abstract pending)
• #### Jean-François Lafont   (Ohio State University)

• (Title and abstract pending)
• #### Kathryn Mann   (Brown University)

• (Title and abstract pending)
• #### Helen Wong   (Carleton College)

• Title: Quantum topology, Hyperbolic geometry, and the Kauffman bracket skein algebra of a surface
• Abstract: The end of the previous century saw radical changes to three-dimensional topology, which arose from two completely different approaches. One breakthrough came from Thurston's introduction of hyperbolic geometry into the field. The second one came from the discovery of new quantum invariants for knots and three-dimensional manifolds, and brought in insight and techniques from mathematical physics and quantum groups. It is widely believed that the two approaches are intricately related, but there are few, well-understood points of connection. In this talk, we will focus on the Kauffman bracket skein algebra of a surface, and survey results that tie it to both quantum topology and hyperbolic geometry.

### Student Talks

In addition to the keynote speakers above, the weekend will be filled with 30-minute graduate student presentations. These talks may be expository or on original research, and will help graduate students share and learn exciting mathematics in the subjects of algebra, geometry, and topology. If you would like to give a talk, please submit an abstract.

## Logistics

### Conference Venue

All talks will be held in SERC (The Science Education and Research Center), located at 1915 N 12th St. For location and parking information see the campus map.

### Accommodations

We will be providing participant housing at Temple Towers on campus. More details to follow...

### Getting to Temple by mass transit

SEPTA is the public transportation authority in Philadelphia. They run all the trains, buses, subways, etc.

Follow signs for 'Ground Transportation' and then 'Trains to Center City'. You may purchase a ticket from the conductor on the train for \$8 (cash only) or you may purchase a "SEPTA Key Quick Trip" from the fare kiosks on the train platform for \$6.75 prior to boarding. Get on any train and get off at 'Temple University station' (all trains from the airport will stop here).

• #### From 30th Street Station:

Buy a ticket at one of the ticket counters; tell them you're trying to get to Temple University. Then take one of the following 'Regional Rail' lines and get off at the Temple stop: Chestnut Hill East, Fox Chase, Lansdale/Doylestown, Manayunk/Norristown, Warminster, West Trenton. One quick way to see which line is going to leave for Temple next is using Google maps.

• #### From Center City:

There are two ways to get back to Temple from center city. The fare for either is \$2.50. If you are on or near Broad Street, look for a subway station with a "Broad Street Line" sign. Take the Broad Street Line LOCAL North and get off at Cecil B. Moore station. Walk east on Cecil B. Moore. Temple Towers will be on the right. The other way is to take the 23 bus uptown, which you can catch at the corner of 11th and Market. Get off at 11th and Oxford, and walk west on Oxford (in the direction of traffic). Turn right to head north on 12th. Temple Towers will be on your left.

### Conference Banquet

There will be a banquet Saturday. The location is yet to be determined. More details to follow...

## Schedule

Note: This schedule is tentative.

### Saturday, June 2

Time Event
8:50am-9:30am Registration & Breakfast
9:30am-9:40am Opening Remarks
9:40am-10:40am Plenary Speaker 1
11:10am-1:00pm Graduate student talks (block #1)
1:00pm-2:20pm Lunch
2:20pm-4:10pm Graduate student talks (block #2)
4:30pm-5:30pm Plenary Speaker 2
7:00pm-9:00pm Conference Banquet

### Sunday, June 3

Time Event
8:50am-9:20am Breakfast
9:20am-10:20am Plenary Speaker 3
10:30am-11:40pm Graduate student talks (block #3)
12:00pm-1:00pm Plenary Speaker 4
1:00pm-2:20pm Lunch

## Archive

### Websites From Past Years

The following websites include lists of participants and titles/abstracts of talks: