Math Colloquium

The next Math Colloquium will be held Thursday, April 21, from 3:30-4:20 in VH1228.  (Note that this is a schedule change from an earlier post).  Mike Fitzpatrick, a graduate student at the University of Iowa, will speak on An Introduction to Knot Theory.  An abstract of the talk follows.  Afterward he will be able to answer questions about graduate study at the University of Iowa.  Refreshments will be provided!

ABSTRACT

Knot theory is an active area of research that that has been around
for a while, but has experienced a recent surge of interest.  I
will give a very brief overview of the history of knot theory as
well as why we care about knots today.  I will also talk about some
knot basics like Reidemeister moves and knot invariants.  I will
talk more about a few knot invariants that I find particularly
interesting or nice to work with.  The audience members need not
have a mathematical background to follow the talk.