AMS - IMS- SIAM Joint Summer Research Conference

Groups, Representations and Cohomology

Thursday, June 6 - Friday, June 14, 2002

Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, Massachusetts

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:

Alejandro Adem (co-chair), University of Wisconsin - Madison
Jon Carlson (co-chair), University of Georgia
Geoff Mason, University of California - Santa Cruz
Brian Parshall, University of Virginia
Stephen Smith, University of Illinois at Chicago
Sarah Witherspoon, Amherst College

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

More than a century ago, Frobenius and Schur began the study of the representation theory of finite groups. Even today, many questions remain open, particularly in the areas of representations over the integral rings or fields of positive characteristic. Beginning in the 1930s, Brauer developed block theory to better understand such representations, and it proved important in solving some problems in the classification of finite simple groups. Today, block theory is a subject of intense investigation centering on the conjectures of Alperin, Broue and Dade. Around the same time as Brauer's original work, Eilenberg and MacLane gave an algebraic definition of group cohomology, analogous to similar constructions in topology. The cohomology theory has emerged as a vital tool for those studying representations of finite groups. There are many fruitful interactions among mathematicians from diverse backgrounds who use group cohomology, including those who work in representation theory and algebraic topology. More recently we have seen robust interactions between homotopy theory, group actions and modular representation theory. Topics such as stable splittings of classifying spaces, group actions on finite complexes and homotopy representations blend algebra and topology in novel and productive ways.

The main goals of this meeting will be to showcase recent research accomplishments and also to foster emerging interdisciplinary connections between several related areas in algebra and topology. Participation by recent Ph.D.'s as well as advanced graduate students is particularly encouraged. The conference will also celebrate the 65th birthday of Jon Alperin (June 2002), who has been a highly influential figure in group theory, group cohomology and representation theory.

The following broad themes will be covered at this meeting, combining perspectives from both algebra and topology:

1. Structure and Representations of Finite and Algebraic Groups.

2. Block Theory and the Conjectures of Alperin and Dade.

3. Categorical Equivalences and the Conjectures of Broué.

4. Cohomology of Groups and Classifying Spaces.

5. Groups, Actions and Homotopy Theory.



CONFERENCE REGISTRATION:

All conference participants, including invited speakers and conference organizers, must register to attend the meeting. Anyone interested in attending the conference who is not registered should contact the Wayne Drady at the AMS (wsd@ams.org) as soon as possible. The deadline for registration was March 2, 2002. For more information go to the AMS Summer Research Conferences web site.

Thursday, June 6 is arrival day and Friday, June 14 is departure day.
Sessions will run Friday, June 7 through Thursday, June 13.


THE INVITED PLENARY SPEAKERS INCLUDE:



  • M.Aschbacher (Caltech),
  • D.J.Benson (University of Georgia),
  • M.Broué (Institut Henri Poincaré),
  • W.Browder (Princeton University),
  • J.Brundan (University of Oregon),
  • E.Dade (University of Illinois),
  • K.Erdmann (Oxford University),
  • E.Friedlander (Northwestern University),
  • R.Griess (University of Michigan),
  • J.Grodal (University of Chicago),
  • J.C.Jantzen (University of Aarhus),
  • G.Lehrer (University of Sydney),
  • G.Lusztig (MIT),
  • M.Linckelman (University of Paris VII),
  • U.Meierfrankenfeld (Michigan State University),
  • R.J.Milgram (Stanford University),
  • D.Nakano (University of Georgia),
  • R.Oliver (Universite de Paris-Nord),
  • S.Priddy (Northwestern University),
  • J.Rickard (University of Bristol),
  • G.Robinson (University of Birmingham),
  • R.Rouquier (University of Paris VII),
  • L.Scott (University of Virginia),
  • J.H.Smith (Purdue University),
  • R. Soloman (Ohio State University).
  • P.Webb (University of Minnesota).

CONTRIBUTED LECTURES

There will be opportunities for shorter contributed talks. Anyone who is interested in presenting a lecture should send an abstract to jfc@math.uga.edu.


CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The plenery lectures are being scheduled and posted as titles and abstracts are receive. A schedule of the contributed lectures for the first day will be constructed a week before the conference. A complete schedule of the contributed lectures will not be made out until after the meeting is under way.

TRAVEL and ACCOMODATIONS:

The nearest major airport is Hartford, Connecticut (Bradley International Airport). The AMS has arranged special limousine service from the airports at Hartford and Boston (Logan). To reserve a spot on the limousine, return the limoform that can be picked up as a pdf file here.

The majority of participants will be housed in the Residence Hall. The rooms are single and double occupancy, bathrooms are communal. The rates will be $454.00 for single room and board, and $406.00 for double room and board. A meals only plan for those participants living off of the campus costs $246.00. There is limited housing (approx 10 rooms) at a much larger cost in the on-campus conference center which provides hotel style accommodations. For more information on travel arrangements, conference accomodations and facilities go the the AMS web site.


FUNDING:

We have some funding from the NSF in the form of a grant to the AMS. The funds will be used to support conference speakers and participants. Some preference in funding requests is being given to graduate students, postdocs and young faculty. As expected, the funds are not sufficient to cover all expenses. At the present time the organizers have committed most of the travel and accomodations money for the conference. Some extra funds may become free as the requests for support become clearer. The organizers wish to encourage participants to seek other sources of funding if possible.


CONFERENCE BANQUET:

On Monday, June 10, there will be a conference banquet, celebrating the birthday of Jon Alperin. Anyone who wishes to attend the banquet must register in advance of the meeting. Details of the can be found here.