Janis Lazovskis, Department of Pure Mathematics, University of Waterloo
“Grassmannian structure and oriented bundles”
We will begin by creating a CW-complex structure for the infinite Grassmannian manifold, which will make computation of the cohomology classes easier. Knowledge of elementary alge- braic topology will be assumed, but written notes will be provided on background material. We will also introduce orientation on bundles, allowing us to consider new types of characteristic classes, among them the Euler and Chern classes.