Department of Mathematics - Master Calendar

Title: A coordinate-free derivation of the dual Steenrod algebras

Abstract: I will present a new derivation of the dual Steenrod algebra that has the benefit of being 1) fun, 2) independent of Steenrod operations (and hence any E/H-infinity structure) and 3) coordinate-free/conceptual, thereby making the fact that the dual Steenrod algebra “is” the automorphism group of of an FGL seem less like a coincidence. Possible generalizations include other algebras of operations (unstable, Dyer-Lashof) and exotic spectra (equivariant, motivic).