Dynamics and Rigidity in (very) low dimensions

by Prof. Jonathan Bowden (Universität Hannover)

Tuesday 9 Dec 2025, 17:00 → 18:00 Europe/Berlin

H4 (Geomatikum)

Geometric Topology aims to classify manifolds. Up to dimension 2 this is well-known and one obtains the circle and surfaces respectively. Furthermore, the classification of surfaces, and of the geometric structures they support, is a cornerstone of modern geometry and topology.

Dynamics examines the long-term behavior of transformations, and in dimensions 1 and 2 the subject is especially rich. Following Thurston’s seminal ideas, these perspectives are essential for understanding the geometry of 3-manifolds.

In this talk, I will present key examples and highlight how the principle “1+2=3” underlies the study of 3-manifolds, leading to recent joint work with Kathryn Mann on the rigidity of certain group actions and abundance phenomena for Anosov flows.