Speaker: Benjamin Fine

Abstract:
Wilhelm Magnus was a unique mathematician who had a tremendous impact on combinatorial group theory. This was as much through his many students as through his own work. I was Magnus’ next to last student at Courant and I’ve worked in many areas of both group theory and number theory; Bianchi groups, Fuchsian and triangle groups, one relator products and the Freiheitssatz, discriminating groups and cryptography. I’ll explain how all of these even after many years were derived in part from suggestions of Magnus. Along the way I will also give some anecdotes about being Magnus’ student and friend.