Speaker: Vaughan F. R. Jones (Berkeley)

Title: Planar algebra

Abstract: Planar algebra has multi-input operations parametrised by planar configurations. It arises in many areas including category theory, knot theory, quantum groups and subfactors. Different approaches to it have been taken by different people. Ours most strongly emphasises the planar structure by putting it in the very definition. We will show how this gives rise to a different point of view and new ways of constructing and analysing subfactors.