The instructor for this course is

 

John Roe
427 McAllister Building
roe@math.psu.edu

Wednesday 3:30 - 4:15 and Friday 10:15 - 11:00 (in 427 McAllister).

If you want to reach me outside of class and office hours send me an email - it will usually be possible to schedule a meeting at a mutually convenient time (I will also be glad to answer your questions by email, if they are not too involved).  My office telephone is 865-3845.

 About the instructor....

I was born in England about forty years ago and have been a math addict from early childhood.  I studied math at Cambridge University in England (where I took my bachelors degree) and then at Oxford University for the doctorate.  After that I taught at Oxford for about fifteen years before accepting an offer from Penn State in the summer of 1998.  I've also spent time at UC (=University of California, Berkeley) and CU (=University of Colorado, Boulder).

My mathematical research is mostly into "coarse geometry" - a strange branch of mathematics in which you are permitted to make arbitrarily large errors without changing the final result.  I have written three books and a pile of research articles.  My main research collaborator is Nigel Higson, also a professor here at Penn State.

While in California I met Liane, and we married in Berkeley the next year. State College is roughly equidistant from both our families!  We have two school-age kids.  We worship at State College E Free Church, where we have responsibility for the student fellowship, and where I sometimes lead worship or preach.

In my spare time (school age kids = what spare time?)  I play guitar (mostly 12-string) and, if I have a weekend away, I will go rock-climbing.  I climb at a very moderate grade and prefer long trad routes. 

I am excited about teaching this course and am looking forward to working with you.