Student Algebra Seminar: Mangalath -- Stiefel-Whitney and Chern classes

Vishnu Mangalath will give the Seminar’s sixth talk in Semester 2 tomorrow afternoon
on Zoom.  Please find the details below.  Anyone desiring to attend the talk or join the
mailing list is warmly invited to get in touch: ciappara@maths.usyd.edu.au.  

Title: Stiefel-Whitney and Chern classes 

Abstract: In this talk we will start by reviewing the cup product and the Leray-Hirsch 
theorem from algebraic topology, and use these to the prove existence and uniqueness of 
the Stiefel-Whitney and Chern classes for real and complex vector bundles. We will then 
look at some simple applications of these classes.

Time and date: 3 pm Wednesday 30 September 

Seminar website: https://www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/ciappara/SAS.html