Master Seminar in Algebra, Geometry and Mathematical Physics

6 EC

Semester 1 & 2, period 1, 2, 4, 5

5334MSIA6Y

Owner Master Mathematics
Coordinator prof. dr. Lenny Taelman
Part of Master Mathematics, year 1Master Mathematical Physics, year 1

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

The Master Seminar consists of lectures on a broad range of research topics in Algebra, Geometry and Mathematical Physics. There will be three types of lectures:

  • by the participating first-year students on one or two of the texts mentioned below. The choice will be discussed at the first meeting;
  • by staff members and PhD students in Amsterdam on topics closely related to their research, and by alumni and others on career possibilities after the masters;
  • midterm presentations by second-year students on their ongoing master thesis projects.

The students will have the opportunity to suggest topics and speakers to invite at the Master Seminar.

Study materials

Literature

  • Cours d'arithmétique (translated as a Course in arithmetic) by Jean-Pierre Serre

  • Trees by Jean-Pierre Serre

  • Literature for the second semester to be announced later

Objectives

The aim of this course is to learn to read literature at a research level, organize the material for a seminar talk, and practice presentation skills for such talk, as well as to learn to constructively participate in a research seminar.

Teaching methods

  • Seminar
  • Self-study

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

Presentatie

56

Self study

112

Total

168

(6 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance is compulsory and will be recorded weekly. Absence needs to be communicated to the course coordinators in advance. Students who are late/absent more than 5 times will fail. Attendance will be taken into account in the partial grade for 'active participation' (see Assessment).

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

70%

Quality of presentations

30%

Active participation

A re-sit is not possible. 

Inspection of assessed work

At the first meeting is on Sept 7, the coordinators will explain the goals of the seminar and present the literature to be considered. A joint decision will be taken on which text to follow and the first few weeks of the seminar will be planned.

The second meeting on Sept 14 will have two external presentations. Students will start presenting on Sept 21.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

WeeknummerOnderwerpenStudiestof
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Contact information

Coordinator

  • prof. dr. Lenny Taelman

Staff

  • dr. Guus Regts
  • dr. Michael Walter