Normal Rank and Dehn Surgery Numbers in Group Theory and Topology

The workshop brings together experts in geometric and combinatorial group theory, low-dimensional topology and orderable group theory to communicate recent results on the normal rank (weight) of groups, Dehn surgery numbers of 3-manifolds and related problems. The normal rank of a group is the smallest number of elements that normally generate the group; this mysterious notion lies at the centre of several longstanding problems, including the Kervaire, Levin and Gordon conjectures. The Dehn surgery number of a 3-manifold is bounded below by the normal rank of its fundamental group. The workshop aims to provide a stimulating environment for participants to exchange ideas, discuss recent advances and draw inspiration from the latest progress on these topics.