You are invited to a celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Factoring Lemma. This lemma was the key to solving some long-standing open problems, and was the starting point of an investigation of totally disconnected, locally compact groups that has ensued over the last 20 years. In this talk, the life of the lemma will described from its conception through to a very recent strengthening of it. It will be described at a technical level, as well as viewed through its relationships with topology, geometry, combinatorics, algebra, linear algebra and research grants.

A birthday cake will be served afterwards.

Please make donations to the Mathematics Prize Fund in lieu of gifts.