Manifolds in the metastable range

This is the inaugural R.L. Cohen Distinguished Lecture.

In the 1960s Wall initiated a program to classify smooth (n-1)-connected 2n-manifolds up to diffeomorphism. After half a century of work by many mathematicians this program is now complete for n=/=2. In this talk I will give an overview of the highlights of this program. Following this I will explain how the techniques developed along the way in fact allow us to classify (2n/3 + e)-connected 2n-manifolds with e = o(n). This talk is based on joint work with Senger.

You can learn more about Associate Professor Robert Burklund here.