Teichmuller spaces, ergodic theory and global Torelli theorem

Abstract

A Teichm\"uller space $Teich$ is a quotient of the space of all complex structures on a given manifold $M$ by the connected components of the group of diffeomorphisms. The mapping class group $\Gamma$ of $M$ is the group of connected components of the diffeomorphism group. The moduli problems can be understood as statements about the $\Gamma$-action on $Teich$. I will describe the mapping class group and the Teichmuller space for a hyperkahler manifold. It turns out that this action is ergodic. We use the ergodicity to show that a hyperkahler manifold is never Kobayashi hyperbolic. This is my ICM submission, with review of some of my work on Teichmuller spaces and moduli; proofs are sketched, new observations and some open problems added.