Student Geometry/Topology Seminar

Contact geometry is, in my opinion, the lesser-known brother of symplectic geometry. This talk will cover the basics of contact geometry from the starting point of symplectic geometry. We begin with the Hamiltonian formulation of classical mechanics and explain how a contact structure fits into this framework. If time permits, we will discuss Legendrian knots, which are the lowest-dimensional example of interesting contact geometry.
A detailed knowledge of symplectic geometry is not required. It will be necessary, however, to overlook the many conflicting sign conventions that are present in this subject. Speaker(s): Daniel Irvine (University of Michigan)