Merging Einstein's theory of gravitation with the jittery world of quantum mechanics was a notoriously challenging problem. String theory combines these two pillars of modern theoretical physics beautifully, and is the leading candidate for a theory of quantum gravity in our own universe. (Indeed, it is often described as "the only game in town!") But what is less familiar is its interaction with pure mathematics. We are used to physics appropriating techniques and language from mathematics, but string theory frequently proceeds in the opposite direction. It has proven to be a surprisingly fertile source of powerful conjectures and startling insights for modern mathematics! In this talk we will survey string theory at a basic level and describe how it has advanced subjects in geometry and algebra. No prerequisites necessary!

Dr. Natalie Paquette is a Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Scholar in Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology.