Daniel Biss
(Chicago)
"K_g is not finitely generated"
Abstract: In joint work with Benson Farb, we show that K_g, a certain subgroup of the mapping class group of a genus g surface, is not finitely generated. K_g is the group generated by Dehn twists about null-homologous (separating) curves; it is also known as the kernel of the Johnson homomorphism out of the Torelli group. No background will be assumed.