Title:Formality of the Goldman-Turaev Lie bialgebra and the Kashiwara-Vergne problem
Speaker: Yusuke Kuno
Abstract:The linear span of the free homotopy classes of loops in an oriented surface carries an interesting algebraic structure, known as the Goldman–Turaev Lie bialgebra. In this talk, I will discuss a formality question about this Lie bialgebra, namely whether it is isomorphic to its naturally defined associated graded version. I will explain that this question is closely related to the Kashiwara–Vergne problem, which originally arose in Lie theory. This talk is based on a joint work with Anton Alekseev, Nariya Kawazumi and Florian Naef.
Title:Kashiwara-Vergne as a lesson in patience
Speaker: Tamara Hogan
Abstract: The Kashiwara-Vergne group initially arose through solutions to a c onjecture in Lie theory, and has since been shown to arise in more than one seemingly unrelated context, with several of these occurrences happening in low-dimensional topology. This talk aims to give a narrative walk-through of a non-comprehensive survey of the variety of places the Kashiwara-Vergne group shows its face, and the variety of ways myself and others have tried and/or failed to connect them all. Mentions joint work with Bar-Natan, Dansco, Liu, Roberston, and Scherich.