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In these two lectures I will present on overview of topological string theory, starting with the basic concepts and continuing to the most recent developments. Aspects that will be covered are: closed and open strings, Gromov-Witten theory, matrix models, quantum crystals, and special holonomy manifolds. I will end with some more speculative thoughts about the non-perturbative definition of (topological) string theory and quantum geometry.

Galileo’s campaign on behalf of the modern view of the solar system is one of the most dramatic events in the history of relations between Christianity and science – endlessly portrayed as a battle between theological interests and scientific freedom. But this traditional story is filled with factual errors. And when human fears, rivalries, revenge and the like are taken into account, the story takes on an altogether different cast. In Professor Lindberg’s retelling, the ideological side of the story will be balanced with its richness as a human event. Florentine Heretic, Galileo, church, cosmos, religion, science, theology, geocentric, heliocentric, astronomy