MATH 4810/5810, Topological Data Analysis, August 2023

Instructor:

Dr. Markus Pflaum

Course Contents:

The goal of the course is to give an introduction to the abstract methods of applied algebraic topology and how they can be used to study data sets as they appear in the sciences, engineering and economical life. Particular emphasis will be given to understand how topology can be used to study the shape of data. In the first part of the course, an elementary introduction to topology and homology theory will be given. This is followed by an overview on the fundamentals of data analysis and corresponding software tools. In the third and last part of the course students will work on particular data analysis projects.

Syllabus

Lecture Hours and Venue:

MTWThF 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., August 7 - 24, 2023, MUENZ E123.

Office Hours:

after class and by appointment

Course Projects:

Each student has to write a short paper (around 5 pages) on a particular topic from Topological Data Analysis and give a 10min presentation on this in class. The papers are due August 24, 2023. A selection of possible topics is provided here, but you can propose your own project theme.

Homework:

Homework assignments will be given in class and usually will be discussed the next day at the beginning of class. Every student should present some homework problem.

Course Literature:

Adams & Francosa, Introduction to Topology: Pure and Applied, Pearson
Edelsbrunner & Harer, Computational Topology: An Introduction, American Mathematical Society
Ghrist, Elementary Applied Topology