College of Science Distinguished Speaker: Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus
College of Science Distinguished Speaker
Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus
Steven Strogatz
Winokur Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Mathematics
Cornell University
Abstract:
Everyone has heard of calculus, but why is it so important? In this talk, Prof. Strogatz will try to clarify the fantastic idea at the heart of calculus. With the help of pictures and stories, he’ll trace where calculus came from and then show how it – in partnership with medicine, philosophy, science, and technology – reshaped the course of civilization and helped make the world modern. This talk is intended for everyone, whether you've taken calculus or not, and whether you like math or not. By the end, Prof. Strogatz hopes to convince you that calculus is one of the greatest triumphs of human creativity ever.
Speaker Bio:
Steven Strogatz is the Winokur Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Mathematics at Cornell University. He works on nonlinear dynamics and complex systems applied to physics, biology, and the social sciences. His 1998 Nature paper on “small-world” networks, co-authored with his former student Duncan Watts, has been cited more than 50,000 times according to Google Scholar, ranking it among the top 100 most-cited scientific papers of all time. A renowned teacher and communicator, Strogatz has blogged about math for the New York Times and The New Yorker and has been a frequent guest on Radiolab and Science Friday. His latest book, Infinite Powers, was a New York Times bestseller and was shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize.
Intended Audience:
Beginners, undergraduates, graduates, experts. Those with interest in the topic.
A reception will immediately follow in the Gosnell Atrium.
To request an interpreter, please visit myaccess.rit.edu
Event Snapshot
When and Where
Who
Open to the Public
Interpreter Requested?
No