Stefan Papadima

Abstract:   I will discuss recent work (joint with Alex Dimca and Alex Suciu) on a classical question of Serre: which groups can be realized as fundamental groups of smooth complex algebraic varieties? Our new obstructions involve a classical invariant: the cup-product map in low degrees. As an application, I will present a complete, combinatorial answer to Serre's problem, for groups coming from graphs: Artin groups and Artin kernels.

Here are some directions to Northeastern University. Lake Hall and Nightingale Hall can be best accessed from the entrance on the corner of Greenleaf Street and Leon Street. The two halls are connected, with no well-defined boundary in between. In particular, 509 Lake Hall is on the same corridor as 544 Nightingale Hall.

There is free parking available for people coming to the Colloquium at Northeastern's visitor parking (Rennaisance Garage). The entrance is from Columbus Avenue. If coming by car, you should park there and take the parking talon. After the lecture, you may pick up the payment coupon from Andrei Zelevinsky.