Title: The topology of graphs

Abstract: Topologists consider two spaces (think: shapes of any possible dimension) to be weakly equivalent if one can be easily deformed into the other. For example, to a topologist, a sphere is weakly equivalent to a cube. However, it becomes very difficult to determine whether two spaces are weakly equivalent when the dimension of the spaces is greater than three. In this talk, I will introduce one tool that topologists use to distinguish between spaces called homotopy groups. Then I will describe how we can use ideas from topology to study graphs.

Presenter:  Dr. Deborah Vicinsky is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics in Mathematics & Computer Science Department at Wabash College.  She received her PhD from the University of Oregon in 2015.   Her research interests include model categories, Goodwilie calculus and homotopy of graphs.