Joint Math/CMSA Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Dan Freed, Harvard Math & CMSA Title: Abelian gauge fields and duality Abstract: Motivated by the new paper arXiv:2603.19161, I will give a general talk about abelian gauge fields, including duality. I will start with classical Maxwell theory, then discuss various “finite” examples, the typical p-form abelian […]
Swampland and our Universe Dates: April 15–16, 2026 Location: Harvard CMSA, Room G10, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge MA The swampland program has inspired a range of new ideas in both cosmology and neutrino physics. This workshop brings together experts in neutrino physics, dark energy, dark matter, early-universe cosmology, and string theory to share insights on […]
https://youtu.be/DtaFyE9BcXw Date: April 15, 2026 Time: 5:00–6:00 pm Location: Harvard Science Center Hall C, 1 Oxford St., Cambridge MA Speaker: Peter Sarnak, Institute for Advanced Study Title: The Riemann Hypothesis Abstract: After reviewing the hypothesis as put forth by Riemann we discuss its generalizations and analogues. We highlight a few of their implications and workarounds, […]
Algebra Seminar Speaker: Dipendranath Mahato, Tulane University Title: Interpolation for points in $\mathbb{P}^N, N\geq 2$ Abstract: Interpolation problems study hypersurfaces in projective space passing through prescribed sets of points. Classically, one asks how many independent conditions a collection of points imposes on hypersurfaces of a fixed degree, a question that can be studied algebraically via […]
Member Seminar Speaker: Vasily Krylov Title: Higgs and Coulomb branches: Geometry and Representation Theory Abstract: Higgs and Coulomb branches of quiver gauge theories form two important families of Poisson varieties that are expected to be exchanged under so-called 3D mirror symmetry. Quantized Coulomb branches are associative algebras deforming the algebras of functions on Coulomb branches. They are […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Lorenzo Riva (Harvard CMSA) Title: Zigzags, adjoints, and bordisms Abstract: We will learn how to freely add adjoints to a category using a combinatorial procedure which involves drawing zigzags of squares. Peculiarly, we can use these to draw some bordisms. This is joint work with Martina Rovelli.
Joint Math/CMSA Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Ahsan Khan, Harvard CMSA Title: Introduction to A-infty categories Abstract: I will give a pedagogical account of A-infty categories and the various places they show up in mathematical physics.
https://youtu.be/91-jAKfUpRY CMSA/Tsinghua Math-Science Literature Lecture Date: April 22, 2026 Time: 9:00 - 10:30 am ET Location: via Zoom Webinar Speaker: Nicolai Reshetikhin, Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, Tsinghua University Title: Asymptotic representation theory Abstract: Loosely speaking asymptotic representation theory studies representations of “large” groups or algebras. One of the first results in this direction is the study […]
Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: François Greer, MSU Title: Boundedness for K-trivial varieties with fibrations Abstract: According to the Beauville-Bogomolov decomposition theorem, any smooth K-trivial variety admits a finite cover by a product of (1) abelian varieties, (2) strict Calabi-Yau varieties, and (3) irreducible holomorphic symplectic varieties (IHSV). In a fixed dimension, all abelian varieties […]
Sixth Annual Yip Lecture Date: April 23, 2026 Time: 4:00–5:00 pm ET Location: Harvard Science Center Hall A & via Zoom Webinar Speaker: Regina Barzilay, MIT Title: Can ML methods design drugs? Abstract: Today, life sciences are driven by prohibitively expensive wet lab experimentations, which limit the pace and scope of discovery. This talk focuses on […]
Member Seminar Speaker: Daniel Spiegel Title: The Intermingling of Symmetry and Parametrization in Matrix Product States Abstract: In the study of quantum spin systems, it is by now well-known that interesting phases of quantum matter can arise from gapped ground states when the system is invariant under a symmetry group G or when the system varies continuously […]
Freedman Seminar Speaker: Mike Freedman, Harvard CMSA Title: Compression Is All You Need: Modeling Mathematics Abstract: The talk will exposit a recent eponymous arXiv posting with coauthors Vitaly Aksenov, Eve Bodnia, and Mike Mulligan. The approach is to think like a physicist and model a seemingly complex bit of reality: mathematics, by a simple toy […]