Benson Farb

Abstract:   In this talk I will explain a connection between the two topics in the title. The connection between these very different subjects appears as part of the theory of "representation stability". Tom Church and I originally came up with this theory as a broad generalization of classical homological stability. We came to realize, however, that representation stability provides a framework for finding and predicting patterns in many other areas of mathematics, from classical representation theory to cohomology of groups and varieties to Lie algebras to combinatorics to counting problems in number theory. I will try to make this talk accessible to first year graduate students.

Here are some directions to Northeastern University. Lake Hall and Nightingale Hall can be best accessed from the entrance on the corner of Greenleaf Street and Leon Street. The two halls are connected, with no well-defined boundary in between. In particular, 509 Lake Hall is on the same corridor as 544 Nightingale Hall.

There is free parking available for people coming to the Colloquium at Northeastern's visitor parking (Rennaisance Garage). The entrance is from Columbus Avenue. If coming by car, you should park there and take the parking talon. After the lecture, you may pick up the payment coupon from Andrei Zelevinsky.