[Maths-Education] LKL Maths-Art lecture - 8 June - Illuminating Chaos

[Phillip Kent]

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the next London Knowledge Lab Maths-Art event on 
Wednesday 8 June, 6 to 7.30pm. Professor Mike Field (University of Houston, 
currently visiting professor at Imperial College, London) will speak on 
"Illuminating Chaos":

It is commonly believed that randomness and chaos are the antithesis of 
structure and form. Basic physical theories, such as quantum mechanics, 
suggest that in
some respects the universe is intrinsically random at the atomic level. 
However, in spite of this apparent indeterminacy, there is no lack of 
atomic structure. Life itself, depending as it does on the statistical laws 
of genetics and inheritance, provides another example of the rich structure 
that can occur in an apparently random process.

The talk will illustrate how randomness and structure can coexist by 
exploring a number of simple mathematical models of chaos, including a 
number of dramatic visualizations of the remarkable geometry and structure 
that can be found in chaotic systems. As well, a number of computer 
demonstrations will be given that give a graphic representation of the 
nature of chaos.

The talk is intended for a general audience and will have a significant 
visual component. Quantum mechanics, statistics, biology and higher mathematics
are definitely not prerequisites!

All welcome. No ticket required, but please inform Phillip Kent 
[p.kent at ioe.ac.uk] if you are planning to attend.

For full details, download the poster at: 
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/tlrp/technomaths/2005-06-08-Mike-Field-lecture-poster.pdf



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Dr Phillip Kent
London Knowledge Lab - Institute of Education
23 - 29 Emerald St
London WC1N 3QS
p.kent at ioe.ac.uk
tel 020 7763 2156   mobile 07950 952034
www.ioe.ac.uk/tlrp/technomaths
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