Workshop — Minimal Surfaces in Symmetric Spaces

Soap films and bubbles have fascinated children and scientists for centuries. Mathematically, minimal surface theory -- with roots reaching back to Euler -- has been fundamental in the development of geometric analytic techniques and is presently experiencing extraordinary progress. It stands at the crossroads of several scientific disciplines including geometric analysis, algebraic geometry, dynamical systems, and mathematical physics (string theory, quantum field theories). The workshop will facilitate interactions and foster long-term collaborations between researchers in these areas who are – often unbeknownst – studying similar phenomena from different perspectives while using different techniques.