Seminar

In this talk, we will first discuss the motivations for motivic classes coming from point counting over finite fields. Then we will give the definitions of the motivic classes of varieties, in particular we explain that an extra relation is needed in finite characteristic. We will introduce symmetric powers and motivic zeta functions that are universal versions of local zeta functions.

The most skilled mathematicians in the world must also be effective communicators. In the first three years of my Ph.D., I gave seven math talks, all with undergraduate math students in mind. In this talk, I will discuss the benefits of giving undergrad-friendly talks, both for your progress as a Ph.D. student and for preparing to apply to academic jobs. I will offer some advice on topic selection, and then I will share some key principles to keep in mind when making undergraduate-friendly talks, using my own past talks as examples.