This event will be held both online and in-person. To view Dr. Dumas’s talk virtually, enter his Online chatroom via. Microsoft Teams— it will open at 2:00pm on Friday, November 12th, 2021. To attend this event in-person, come to EMS, E495 before 2:00pm on Friday, November 12th, 2021.

Geometry of surface group homomorphisms

Dr. David Dumas
Professor of Mathematics
University of Illinois-Chicago

“The space of homomorphisms from the fundamental group of a compact surface to a Lie group is a remarkably rich and versatile object, playing a key role in mathematical developments spanning disciplines of algebra, analysis, geometry, and mathematical physics. In this talk I will discuss and weave together two major threads of research within this larger story: The study of manifolds that are obtained from surface group homomorphisms by taking quotients of symmetric spaces (the “inside view”) or domains in flag varieties (the “outside view”). This discussion will start with classical objects—hyperbolic structures on surfaces—and continue into topics of ongoing research.”

*Click to view the event flyer.