University of Georgia
Department of Mathematics

Seminar Schedule
November 24- November 28, 2003

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

MONDAY, November 24, 2003

Numerical Analysis
1:30p.m., Room 524
No Meeting this week

Geometry
1:30p.m., Room 410
Speaker: Jason Cantarella, University of Georgia
Title of talk: On wild kinks and virtual circles
Abstract: We elucidate an approach to the ropelength-criticality problem for thicknesses with a curvature bound.

Topology
2:30p.m., Room 322
Speaker: TBA
Title of talk: TBA

VIGRE - Algebra Seminar
2:30p.m., Room 410
Organizer: Daniel Nakano, University of Georgia
Activity: We will compute unipotent varieties for exceptional groups in bad characteristics.

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

Lie Theory
3:30p.m., Room 303
Speaker: TBA
Title of talk: TBA

TUESDAY, November 25, 2003

VIGRE Graduate Student Seminar
2:00-3:15pm, Room 304
Speaker: Alexander Stokolos, DePaul University, Chicago
Title of talk: Benefits from Paradoxical Sets
Abstract: What is the smallest-area convex set in the plane inside which a needle (unit straight line segment) can be reversed (spun around 180 degrees)?

Answer: an equilateral triangle of unit height. OK, now what if you allow non-convex sets? What is the smallest area set in which you can reverse a needle? Draw pictures. Think about the second question for a minute.

This Fun Question is easy to present but its solution involves some deep mathematics. The construction of "small" sets containing a needle in all directions is a detailed analytical construction, and the general study of such sets is currently an active area of research in analysis. If you are interested in the answer - come to the talk.

Analysis
3:30p.m., Room 326
Speaker: TBA
Title of talk: TBA

WEDNESDAY, November 26, 2003

University Holiday

THURSDAY, November 27, 2003

University Holiday


FRIDAY, November 28, 2003

University Holiday