Gromov-Witten theory, Gauge Theory and Dualities

There has been mutually stimulating interaction between geometry and physics since the days of Euclid (300 BC), and more recently, of Newton, Maxwell and Einstein. In the past 30 years, even more exciting interactions between geometry and physics have emerged through the work of Donaldson in applying gauge theory to low dimensional topology, Witten’s quantum field theory interpretations of Jones/Donaldson polynomials, Fukaya-Ono/Ruan-Tian’s mathematical work on Gromov-Witten theory, and more recently through Kapustin-Witten’s work on electric-magnetic Duality and its relation to the geometric Langlands program. These introductory lecture series and the subsequent international conference will bring together international leaders in these areas to foster communication and to initiate collaboration in Australia.