Let \(G\) be a countably infinite group and consider the class of all
measure-preserving actions of \(G\) on probability spaces. The best
method for understanding this class, according to ideas from
continuous model theory and particularly Robinson's philosophy, is to
study the probability-measure-preserving actions which are
"existentially closed." Roughly, these are the actions which possess
"arbitrarily good solutions" to all "equations" which "should have"
solutions. In this talk, I will define in more detail what this means
and provide some examples. Then I will discuss how our ability to
understand existentially closed actions hinges upon topological
phenomena, particularly first cohomology groups. This work leaves open
a vexing question: are the existentially closed actions axiomatizable
for every countable group \(G\)? The results presented are joint work
with Isaac Goldbring and Robin Tucker-Drob.