Universally Counting Curves in Calabi-Yau Threefolds

Explore a comprehensive lecture on enumerating curves in algebraic varieties, focusing on a proposed "universal" enumerative invariant. Delve into the cluster formalism of Ionel and Parker, which demonstrates that for threefolds with nef anticanonical bundle, the resulting Grothendieck group is freely generated by local curves. Examine how this approach reduces the MNOP conjecture to the case of local curves, where it has already been proven through the work of Bryan-Pandharipande and Okounkov-Pandharipande. Gain insights into this advanced mathematical topic presented by John Pardon from the Simons Center during an M-Seminar at Kansas State University.