WORKSHOP ON TOPOLOGY AND PHYSICS
DREXEL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENTS OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS
SEPTEMBER 8-9, 2008
The purpose of the workshop is to bring together mathematicians, physicists and students interested in the interaction between topology and physics. Six invited lectures will describe various classical and current aspects of this interaction at a level appropriate to an audience of non-specialists. Poster sessions and extended discussion periods will provide the opportunity for participants to exchange ideas and establish contacts and collaborations.
Program
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
| 8:00-9:00 | Coffee and Poster Session |
| 9:00-9:50 | Invited Lecture |
| Topological Quantum Field Theories and Duality Tony Pantev University of Pennsylvania | |
| 9:50-10:00 | Question Period |
| 10:00-10:30 | Coffee and Poster Session |
| 10:30-11:20 | Invited Lecture |
| Topology of the Universe through Cosmology Amir Hajian Princeton University | |
| 11:20-11:30 | Question Period |
| 11:30-1:30 | Lunch |
| 1:30-2:20 | Invited Lecture |
| Topology of DNA Wilma Olson and Irwin Tobias Rutgers University | |
| 2:20-2:30 | Question Period |
| 2:30-3:00 | Coffee and Poster Session |
| 3:00-4:00 | Discussion Period |
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
| 8:00-9:00 | Coffee and Poster Session |
| 9:00-9:50 | Invited Lecture |
| Topology of Chaos Robert Gilmore Drexel University | |
| 9:50-10:00 | Question Period |
| 10:00-10:30 | Coffee and Poster Session |
| 10:30-11:20 | Invited Lecture |
| Heterotic Mirror Symmetry Eric Sharpe Virginia Tech | |
| 11:20-11:30 | Question Period |
| 11:30-1:30 | Lunch |
| 1:30-2:20 | Invited Lecture |
| Geometry of Topological Defects in Soft Matter Randall D. Kamien University of Pennsylvania | |
| 2:20-2:30 | Question Period |
| 2:30-3:00 | Coffee and Poster Session |
| 3:00-4:00 | Discussion Period |
| 6:00-8:00 | Dinner |
Registration
There is no registration fee. If you would like to attend, however, we ask that you fill out the following Registration Form.
Accommodations
Hotels in the immediate vicinity of Drexel tend to be rather expensive. Two that are nearby are The Inn at Penn and The Sheraton University City. With at least two weeks notice the Mathematics Department can reserve rooms at Club Quarters in Philadelphia, which is considerably less expensive, located in Center City Philadelphia and with easy access to Drexel by subway.
Support
Some (very) modest support is available for students in need of travel funds. Apply on the Registration Form.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact Greg Naber at gln22@drexel.edu.