SMRI Seminar: Kovacs -- Tricking the Devil

**Please note this seminar is in-person only

SMRI Seminar: 
’Tricking the Devil’ 
Sandor Kovacs (University of Washington) 

Thursday 20th April, 1:00-2:00pm (AEST) 
Quad S249 (in-person only)

Abstract: Max Noether said that algebraic curves were created by God and algebraic
surfaces by the Devil.  Unfortunately, that description seems to be also valid for the
moduli theory of these objects respectively.  I will recall one of the first obstacles
one faces when trying to extend the basic results of the moduli theory of curves to that
of surfaces and then discuss how one may resolve the arising issue.  Time permitting, I
will also explain the various stability conditions this problem and its resolution led
to.  

Biography: Sandor Kovacs is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of
Washington.  He received his BS degree at Eoetvoes University (Hungary), and his PhD at
the University of Utah.  He held positions at MIT and the University of Chicago before
moving to the University of Washington.  His awards include the American Mathematical
Society’s Centennial Research Fellowship, Alfred P.  Sloan Foundation Research
Fellowship, and two Simons Foundation Fellowships.  He is a Fellow of the American
Mathematical Society.  

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Please join us after the seminar for SMRI afternoon tea, 2:00-2:45pm every Thursday on
the SMRI Terrace (accessed through A14-04-L4.36) 

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