Despite their straightforward definition, the homeomorphism groups of surfaces are far from straightforward. Basic algebraic and dynamical problems are wide open for these groups, which is a far cry from the closely related and much better understood mapping class groups of surfaces. With Jonathan Bowden and Sebastian Hensel, we introduced the fine curve graph as a tool to study homeomorphism groups. Like its mapping class group counterpart, it is Gromov hyperbolic, and can shed light on algebraic properties such as scl, via geometric group theoretic techniques. This brings us to the enticing question of how much of Thurston's theory (e.g. Nielsen--Thurston classification, invariant foliations, etc.) for mapping class groups carries over to the homeomorphism groups. We will describe new phenomena which are not encountered in the mapping class group setting, and meet some new connections with topological dynamics, which is joint work with Bowden, Hensel, Kathryn Mann and Emmanuel Militon. I will survey what's known, describe some of the new and interesting problems that arise with this theory, and give an idea of what's next.

We ask to what extend the SL(2,C)-character variety of the
fundamental group of the complement of a knot in S^3 determines the
knot. Our methods use results from group theory, classical 3-manifold
topology, but also geometric input in two ways: the geometrisation
theorem for 3-manifolds, and instanton gauge theory. In particular this
is connected to SU(2)-character varieties of two-component links, a
topic where much less is known than in the case of knots. This is joint
work with Michel Boileau, Teruaki Kitano, and Steven Sivek.

In the theory of relative algebraic geometry, our affines are objects in the opposite category of commutative monoids in a symmetric monoidal category $\mathcal{C}$. This categorical approach simplifies many constructions and allows us to compare different geometries. Toën and Vezzosi's theory of homotopical algebraic geometry considers the case when $\mathcal{C}$ has a model structure and is endowed with a compatible symmetric monoidal structure. Derived algebraic geometry is recovered when we take $\mathcal{C}=\textbf{sMod}_k$, the category of simplicial modules over a simplicial commutative ring $k$.

In Kremnizer et al.'s version of derived analytic geometry, we consider geometry relative to the category $\textbf{sMod}_k$ where $k$ is now a simplicial commutative complete bornological ring. In this talk we discuss, from an algebraist's perspective, the main ideas behind the theory of relative algebraic geometry and discuss briefly how it provides us with a convenient framework to consider derived analytic geometry.