University of Georgia
Department of Mathematics

Seminar Schedule
February 2 - 6, 2004

All Seminars are held in Boyd Graduate Studies Bldg. unless otherwise noted.

MONDAY, February 2, 2004

VIGRE - Algebra
2:30p.m., Room 410
Speaker: Brian Boe, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Nilpotent orbits for classical groups in characteristic 2

Topology
2:30p.m., Room 322
Speaker: Gordana Matic, University of Georiga
Title of talk: On Symplectic fillings and applications
Abstract: I will talk about theorems of Eliashberg and Etnyre on symplectic fillings. They have important applications in proving property P ( Kronheimer and Mrowka) and in showing nonvanishing of contact Heegard Floer invariants ( Ozsvath and Szabo).

Faculty and Graduate Social
3:00p.m., Room 409
Coffee, Tea, Cookies

Lie Theory
3:30p.m., Room 303
Title: An Introduction to Crystals, I
Speaker: Jon Kujawa, University of Georgia
Abstract: This will be an introduction to the basic definitions and theory of crystal/canonical bases and the combinatorics of their associated graphs. The goal will be to give the flavor of the subject through examples. Eventually we will also discuss some of the connections between crystals and the representation theory of, for example, the symmetric group.

Stochastic Processes
3:30p.m., Room 410
Speaker: Dan Kannan, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Weak Convergence of Measures

TUESDAY, February 3, 2004

VIGRE Graduate Student Seminar
2:00p.m., Room 304
Speaker: Sybilla Beckmann-Kazez, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Mathematics for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers
Abstract: What mathematics should elementary and middle grades teachers know to be prepared to teach? I will present principles that can guide courses for elementary teachers. We will discuss types and examples of problems that are useful for teaching but may be overlooked in standard mathematics courses. Everyone agrees that mathematics courses for teachers are important. I also hope to convince you that such courses can be interesting and fun.

Special Seminar in Analysis
2:00-4:00p.m., Room 410
Speaker: Gerd Mockenhoupt, Georgia Institute of Technology
Title of talk: Local smoothing estimates for Fourier integral operators

Wavelet Analysis
2:00p.m., Room 326
Speaker: Jie Zhou, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Compactly supported orthonormal scaling functions with dilation d>2.

WEDNESDAY, February 4, 2004

Berkovich Spaces Seminar
11:00a.m., Room 410
Organizers: Matthew Baker and Robert Rumely

Algebra
2:30p.m., Room 322
Speaker: Jon Carlson, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Introduction to spectral sequences
Abstract: This is to be the first in a series of lectures on the basics of spectral sequences. The participants in the seminar should know some homological algebra. In the first lecture we will look at the homology or cohomology of a double complex. The questions are

Why is there a spectral sequence?
How does it work?
What should we expect it to tell us?

We will explore the answers as far as possible in one period.

Algebraic Geometry
2:30p.m., Room 303
No Meeting this week

Faculty and Graduate Social
3:00p.m., Room 409
Coffee, Cookies, Tea

Numerical Analysis
3:30p.m., Room 303
Speaker: Ming-Jun Lai, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Scattered data interpolation using bivariate splines
Abstract: I will distribute several computer projects for data interpolation and fitting and explain some background information about the projects.

Number Theory
3:45p.m., Room 304
Speaker: Su-ion Ih, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Equidistribution on Abelian Varieties
Abstract: This is joint work with M. Baker. We will talk about a higher dimensional analogue of the Szpiro-Ullmo-Zhang/Ullmo/Zhang equidistribution theorem. It says that small varieties are equidistributed on an abelian variety.

THURSDAY, February 5, 2004

VIGRE - Cardiac Physiology
2:30p.m., Room 304
Speaker: Jason Baldeau, University of Georgia
Title of talk: The Membrane Potential
Abstract: Jason will tell us about the affects that charged ions have on ion concentrations in the environment of the cell membrane.

VIGRE - Contact Topology
2:00p.m., Room 410
Organizer: Gordana Matic, University of Georgia

Student Number Theory
3:30p.m., Room 303
No Meeting this week

FRIDAY, February 6, 2004

CATS
1:25-2:15pm, Room 306
Speaker: TBA
Title of talk: TBA

Electrodynamics Seminar
2:30p.m., Room 322
Speaker: Robert Varley, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Wigner's approach to elementary particles

Geometry
2:30p.m., Room 326
Speaker: TBA
Title of talk: TBA