Geometry and Physics: 2013-2016

Overview

Pure mathematics and fundamental physics, historic partners for centuries, grew apart during the first half of the 20th century. This changed with the emergence of gauge theory in particle physics and, still more strikingly, the string-theoretic approach to quantum gravity. In the 21st century thus far, many of the great insights into geometry have come from physical models formulated in geometric terms.

 

During 2013-2015, the PIMS CRG in Geometry and Physics will bring hundreds of the world's best researchers in geometry and physics to Western Canada to continue to develop this rich interface.

 

Led by Chuck Doran (UAlberta), the principal CRG faculty are Kai Behrend (UBC), Vincent Bouchard (UAlberta), Jim Bryan (UBC), Thomas Creutzig (UAlberta), Emanuel Diaconescu (UAlberta), David Favero (UAlberta), Robin Graham (UWashington) and Andreas Karch (UWashington). The CRG Scientific Committee consists of distinguished geometers and physicists: Ron Donagi (UPenn), Jim Gates (UMaryland), Sheldon Katz (UIUC) and Yongbin Ruan (UMichigan)

 

Events

An international conference on "Calabi-Yau Manifolds and Moduli" will be held in June 2014 at UAlberta. This will be immediately followed by the premier international conference in the field, the String-Math Conference, to be held at UAlberta's new Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science. Previously held at UPenn, the Hausdorff Center, and the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, the conference represents a significant "coming of age" for UAlberta geometry and physics group.

 

In the weeks preceding these events, a three-day Geometry and Physics Workshop will take place at UBC, followed by a String-Math Summer School at the new PIMS site at UBC. Other planned activities include a joint geometry and physics seminar at UAlberta and UBC. This cross-province merger will take advantage of the newly operational NSERC-RTI funded PIMS-UA Collaborative Research Environment (CoRE) at the PIMS-UAlberta office and the new Westgrid facilities at the PIMS-UBC site. Graduate courses at UBC and U Alberta will involve students and faculty at both universities, some courses being designated as PIMS "Hot Topics."

 

This interface between geometry - algebraic, arithmetic and differential - and string theory is fruitful, timely and of great relevance for the CRG groups at UAlberta, UBC and UWashington. This period of concentration will help each site develop the talents of their students and postdocs, aid in both retention and recruitment of faculty in this area and strengthen the interactions among these groups of researchers.