The Math/Stats Colloquium is pleased, proud, and excited to conclude its academic year with Erica Flapan (Pomona College, visiting MSRI) on “Topological and Geometric Symmetries of Molecular Structures”. Most non-biological molecules are too small to see by any means, so chemists need to collect experimental data as evidence of a molecule’s form. One approach is to match experimental data about symmetries of the molecule to symmetries of a physical model of the desired form. But molecules that are not completely rigid may have symmetries not found in the model. In that case, topology (the study of deformations of objects in space) can help interpret the data. In this talk we will explore topological and geometric approaches to studying the symmetries of complex molecular structures.
Background: No background in math or chemistry necessary. Newer math majors and lower-division students are especially encouraged to attend.
- Date: Wed May 06
- Time: 3-3:50pm
- Room: MH320
- Snacks: 2:30pm in MH331B
For more information, click here to see the full flyer, suitable for printing and posting.
Hope to see you there!