Mathematical Sciences Department
Levi L. Conant Lecture
Joshua Greene, Boston College
Friday, March 24, 2023
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Unity Hall 400
Title: Heegaard Floer homology
Abstract: Heegaard Floer homology consists of a collection of tools for studying
smooth objects in dimensions 1, 2, 3, and 4, such as knots and surfaces in
3-space. It was defined by Peter Ozsváth and Zoltán Szabó in the early
2000's, drawing on techniques from symplectic geometry and
mathematical gauge theory. This talk will describe the historical
development of the area and highlight some of its stunning applications.
Joshua Greene is from Columbia, Maryland. He received a Bachelor's
degree from Harvey Mudd College in 2002 and a PhD from Princeton
University in 2009. In between, he spent a year as an Americorps
volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Morehead, Kentucky. He has been
a professor at Boston College since 2011. His research is in lowdimensional
topology, using techniques from symplectic geometry and
combinatorics.