A Celebration of Raoul Bott's Legacy in Mathematics, Montreal, Quebec

Trustees Of Boston University, Boston

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract Award: DMS-0805925 Principal Investigator: P. Robert Kotiuga This award provides partial support of the conference on the heritage of Raoul Bott planned for the Centre de Recherche Mathematique in Montreal, Quebec during June 2008. Topics of conference presentations include: operator algebraic methods and K-theory, supersymmetry and quantum field theory, Morse theory, string topology, pseudoholomorphic curves, Floer homology, equivariant cohomology and localization, generalized cohomology theories and physics, and networks; applications and modular forms. This conference, cosponsored by the Clay Mathematics Institute, focuses on the mathematical legacy of Raoul Bott and the extraordinary impact he had on both topology and interactions between mathematics, physics and technology. Bott?s students, coauthors, and intellectual descendents will talk on forward-looking research topics, addressing a broad audience. Montreal was chosen as the conference venue because Bott obtained two degrees in Electrical Engineering at McGill University in the 1940s, an Honorary Doctorate from McGill in 1987 and the Centre de Recherches Mathematiques (CRM) is the focal point of mathematics in Montreal where one can find three generations of mathematicians with close connections to Bott. The week-long conference features 26 hour long slots for technical talks or panel discussions. See http://www.crm.math.ca/Bott08 for details.