Course Descriptions

Uhlenbeck Lecture: Representation theory and categorification

Abstract: In modern representation theory we often study the category of modules over an algebra, in particular its intrinsic and combinatorial structures. Vice versa one can ask the question: which categories have a given combinatorics? This is the basic insight into the concept of categorification. Categorification is a recent development which often provides finer invariants and is used in different areas of mathematics (such as knot theory). We will explain a crucial ingredient in categorification: diagrammatics of tensor categories. We will focus on a few examples that arise in current research, such as Deligne categories.

This course provides a categorical framework for the structures studied in the elementary course.

Terng Lecture: Representation theory and combinatorics of the symmetric group and related structures

Abstract: With an eye toward coordinating with the advanced course, we will start with the representation theory of the symmetric group and related combinatorics. We will focus on the functors of induction and restriction. We will then consider related algebraic structures such as Hecke algebras. We can use diagrammatics to depict various elements, objects, morphisms, and so on, even in the setting of de-categorification.