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Introducing:  Dr. Michael Starbird Topologically, a circle is the same as a square or a triangle, but different from a lollipop. The auditorium is full all the way to the back! Students attempt to write down the topological alphabet. Dr. Starbird explains why the letter R is the same as the letter A. Students explore some other stretching and twisting ideas. What?  You can't untangle that! A torus and a sphere Dr. Starbird attempts to turn his shorts inside out while his ankles are tied together.  (Notice that his shorts are green.) "I think I may have to resort to thought!" Taa daa!  The shorts are now blue!

 Dave Jensen - smmg@math.utexas.edu
Department of Math, UT Austin, 1 University Station C1200, Austin, TX 78712
Phone: 512-475-9138 | Fax: 512-471-9038 | Office: RLM 9.144