Algebra/topology seminar

Speaker: Sam Nariman

Title: The moduli space of flat surface bundles

Abstract: Flat manifold bundles (i.e. manifold bundles with foliations transverse to the fibers) are classified by homotopy classes of maps to the classifying space of diffeomorphisms made discrete. In this talk, I will talk about homological stability of discrete surface diffeomorphisms  and discrete symplectic diffeomorphisms which was conjectured by Morita. I will  describe an infinite loop space related to the Haefliger space whose homology is the same as group homology of discrete surface diffeomorphisms in the stable range. Finally, I will discuss some interesting applications to the characteristic classes of flat surface bundles and foliated bordism groups of codimension 2 foliations.