1 jun 2010 - 12 jun 2010   [open in google calendar]

SERIES OF TALKS BY FRANK MORGAN

SOAP BUBBLES AND ISOPERIMETRIC PROBLEMS

Napoli, June 1, 4pm (Sala Azzurra Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo)

- ABSTRACT: Soap bubbles and foams have all kinds of applications in science and beyond, but even simple questions continue to confound and amaze mathematicians. We've long understood that a single round soap bubble provides the least-area way to enclose a given volume of air, as was proved mathematically by Schwarz in 1884. Similarly the double bubble that forms when two bubbles come together provides the least-area way to enclose and separate two given volumes of air, although that was not proved until 2002 in joint work with a former undergraduate research student. Such "isoperimetric problems" are key in understanding other, non-Euclidean spaces. The show will include open questions and a little guessing contest with demonstrations, explanations, and prizes. Students welcome.

DENSITIES FROM ISOPERIMETRY TO POINCARE'

Firenze, June 4, 2.30 pm (Sala Tricerri, Dipartimento di Matematica Ulisse Dini)

- ABSTRACT: The concept of density (as in freshman physics) plays important roles in probability, in geometry and isoperimetric problems, and in Perelman's 2003 proof of the Poincaré Conjecture. No prerequisites; all welcome.

DENSITIES FROM ISOPERIMETRY TO POINCARE'

Pavia, June 8, 4pm

SOAP BUBBLES AND ISOPERIMETRIC PROBLEMS

Pavia, June 10, 3pm

DENSITIES FROM ISOPERIMETRY TO POINCARE'

Como, June 11, 11am (Dipartimento di Fisica e Matematica)

Short Bio: Frank Morgan studies optimal shapes and minimal surfaces. He has published over 100 articles and six books, including "Calculus Lite" and "The Math Chat Book," based on his live, call-in TV show and column. Founder of the NSF "SMALL" Undergraduate Research Project, inaugural winner of the Haimo national teaching award of the Mathematical Association of America, he is Atwell Professor of Mathematics at Williams College. As Vice-President of the American Mathematical Society, he has launched a new blog for mathematics graduate students http:/mathgradblog.williams.edu

Speakers: Frank Morgan.