Curtis McMullen: Manifolds, topology and dynamics

Abstract:
This talk will focus on two fields where Milnor's work has been especially influential:
the classification of manifolds, and the theory of dynamical systems. To illustrate developments in these areas, we will describe how topological objects such as exotic spheres and strange attractors arise naturally in the classical world of algebraic varieties and polynomial maps.

This lecture was held at The University of Oslo, May 25, 2011 and was part of the Abel Prize Lectures in connection with the Abel Prize Week celebrations.

Program for the Abel Lectures 2011
1. "Spheres" by Abel Laureate John Milnor, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Stony Brook University, New York
2. "Manifolds, topology and dynamic" by Professor Curtis McMullen
3. "Bernoulli numbers, homotopy groups, and Milnor" by professor Michael Hopkins
4. "A guided tour of the seventh dimension", a science lecture by professor Etienne Ghys