Topology Seminar: Michele Klaus (UBC)

To each finite group G one associates an algebraic invariant rk(G), called the rank of G, and a topological invariant hrk(G), called the homotopy rank of G. The number hrk(G) is defined in terms of free G-actions on products of spheres. In this talk we define the two invariants and discuss the rank conjecture, which states that rk(G)=hrk(G).