We are now accepting applications for Summer 2023.
Geometric Topology: A Tool for Modeling the Universe
Modality:
On-campus
Session:
II. July 18–August 4, 2023
Day & Time:
Monday–Friday, 11:10 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 3:10–5:00 p.m.
Instructor(s):
to be announced
Prerequisites:
Student with experience in both geometry and algebra at a high school level will be best prepared for this course. Participants should be prepared to have patience with some longer computations, engage in visual thinking, and employ curiosity about the shape of the universe.
Course Description
Is the universe infinite or finite? What is the curvature and overall shape of the space we live in, and how might we detect this? In this course, participants learn how models for topological spaces relate to theories on the shape of the physical universe. Philosophical discussions are informed by pencil and paper computations, experiments with common household materials, and interactive online games and modules.Participants gain, in addition to early exposure to modern content at the intersection of topology and physical cosmology, an appreciation for rigorous mathematical thinking that is motivated not so much by numbers and quantity as by profound questions about the nature of our world.
Instructor(s)
Specific course detail such as hours and instructors are subject to change at the discretion of the University. Not all instructors listed for a course teach all sections of that course.