06w5067 Topological graph theory and crossing numbers

Arriving Saturday, October 21 and departing Thursday, October 26, 2006

Organizers: Bojan Mohar (Simon Fraser University), Janos Pach (Courant Institute and City College), Bruce Richter (University of Waterloo), Robin Thomas (Georgia Institute of Technology), Carsten Thomassen (Technical University of Denmark).

Confirmed Participants

Information for Participants

Schedule

Final Report (PDF file)

Objectives

The main objective of this workshop is to bring together two groups of researchers, those working in topological graph theory and graph minors, and those working with crossing numbers. Both areas have developed methods, mathematical tools and powerful results that have great potential for being used in the other area. For instance, the most basic open problem about crossing numbers is the Turan's Brickyard problem. Would it be possible to use results about the genus of graphs and graph minors to get some new insight into this problem? On the other hand the study of crossing numbers of graphs on nonsimply connected surfaces may yield new results of interest for the topological graph theory.

We plan to organize some survey lectures where best mathematicians from both areas will present the current state of the art of the theory. Additionally, there will be corresponding problem sessions with intention to motivate the participants to apply their knowledge towards problems in the other area.