Speaker: Robert A. Wilson (Queen Mary) Title: A simple construction of the large Ree groups Time & Place: 3-4pm, Thursday 4 June, Carslaw 535 Abstract: I shall describe a family of 26-dimensional `algebras’ whose automorphism groups are the large Ree groups ${}^2F_4(2^{2n+1})$. These algebras can be defined without reference to the usual underlying Lie theory, and can be used to give an elementary definition of the generalised octagon, and thereby compute the group orders and prove simplicity (for n>0).