Titled “Three-Dimensional Universes: What are the Options?” Thompson’s lecture will explore such questions as what would happen if a rocket traveled a straight trajectory and reached the “end” of the universe; might it return to its starting point?
Thompson specializes in knot theory and the structure of three-dimensional manifolds (shapes). She has held fellowships from Hebrew University, The Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation. She was awarded the 2003 Satter Prize from the American Mathematical Society for outstanding contributions to mathematics in three-dimensional topology.
Thompson is active in promoting women in science and technology as director of the California State Summer School in Science and Mathematics at UC Davis.
Prior to the Kieval Lecture Thursday evening, Thompson will preside at a Mathematics Colloquium the same day at 4 p.m. in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Building, Room 166. The subject will be immersed curves, following the theory of Danish mathematician Fabricius-Bjerre, with an application to knots in the three-sphere.
Both the evening lecture and the afternoon colloquium are free.
The lecture series was established by the late Professor Emeritus Harry S. Kieval to bring distinguished speakers to Humboldt State to deliver lectures on popular and broad aspects of mathematics of interest to undergraduates and to the general public. The lectures are held once each fall and spring. Kieval was HSU Professor of Mathematics from 1966 to 1979.
Details are available from the Department of Mathematics at (707) 826-3143 or at humboldt.edu/math/.