Surfaces in 3-Manifolds and the Thurston Norm

Explore the fascinating world of 3-manifold topology in this 57-minute lecture by Margaret Nichols at the Fields Institute. Delve into the Thurston norm, a powerful tool for measuring the topological complexity of surfaces within 3-manifolds. Gain a gentle introduction to this concept and its applications in modern 3-manifold topology. Discover how the Thurston norm helps answer fundamental questions about manifolds and provides insights into some of the field's most significant recent advancements. Follow along as the lecture covers key topics including examples, motivation, classification, non-complements, Cypher surfaces, and practical applications of the Thurston norm.