Mathematics and Reality
Description
This lecture series will feature eminent local mathematicians or mathematics educators to share with the public some of their interests and ideas.
Speaker
Chong Chi Tat , National University of Singapore
Professor Chong Chi Tat received his PhD from Yale. His major area of research is in mathematical logic, especially recursion (computability) theory. He served as Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost of the National University of Singapore from 1996 to 2004, and is currently Head of the Department of Mathematics and University Professor, with joint appointment in the Department of Philosophy. He is one of the managing editors of the Journal of Mathematical Logic.
Abstract
The attempt to understand, interpret, and even to model reality is one of the most intriguing problems in the history of human civilization. This problem has attracted and captured the imagination of some of the most creative minds in mathematics. After more than a century of studying the problem, we have made great advances and yet seem to be no closer to the truth than a century ago. In this talk several examples will be given to illustrate the apparent paradoxical situation, and discuss the role played by mathematics in the development of ideas that led to this apparent paradox. The examples come from the foundations of mathematics and computer animation.
Click here for Lecture Slides
Refreshment
Buffet dinner will be served after the lecture
Registration
School teachers may do group registration for their students and teachers by choosing the “group registration” option and indicate the number of people attending the lecture in the online registration form.
Closing Date
March 5, 2008