String Theory Journal Club

In string theory, quantum gravity, but also in pure mathematics, counting Riemann surfaces is crucial. Physicists tackled this problem using approximations of Riemann surfaces by "Large Maps", i.e. gluings of a large number of suitably small polygons. In this talk (based on chapter 5 of Eynard's book Counting Surfaces) we find their generating functions. The relation to Minimal Models and to Liouville gravity is exhibited (although the latter in less detail).