Symmetries of Manifolds - Lecture 2

Delve into the second lecture of Oscar Randal-Williams' series on "Symmetries of Manifolds" as part of the 2024 Unni Namboodiri Lectures in Geometry and Topology at the University of Chicago Department of Mathematics. Explore the fascinating world of manifolds and their symmetries in this hour-long presentation. Discover how these mathematical objects, which appear locally like Euclidean space but can be globally complex, are central to topology and geometry. Learn about the various types of symmetry groups, including isometries, diffeomorphisms, and homeomorphisms. Gain insights into classical and recent results concerning the spaces of symmetries for simple manifolds such as spheres, discs, and Euclidean space. Understand the cutting-edge methods used to study these symmetries and get a glimpse of the emerging conjectural picture in this field. Enhance your knowledge of advanced mathematical concepts and their applications in geometry and topology through this in-depth lecture by a University of Cambridge expert.