Colloqiuim-In praise of diagrams

Title: In praise of diagrams
Speaker: Heather Russell, University of Richmond, https://math.richmond.edu/faculty/hrussell/
Date and time: Friday, February 7, 2:00pm-3pm
Place: Rome Hall (801 22nd Street), Room 352

Abstract: Diagrams play an important role in mathematics. Not only do they provide a convenient framework for computation, but also they may lead to new insights into the object of study and surprising connections between seemingly disparate areas of math. Perhaps nowhere is the role of the diagram more elevated than in knot theory. In this talk, we will discuss the importance of diagrams with a focus on three examples: knot diagrams, webs, and Young tableaux.

Short Bio: Heather M. Russell is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Richmond. She received her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Iowa in 2009 and held post-doctoral positions at Louisiana State University and University of Southern California prior to coming to Richmond. Her research applies diagrammatic and combinatorial methods to problems in knot theory, representation theory, and graph theory. She is passionate about involving students in her research and building a more inclusive math community.

Jointly with AWM lecture