David Mumford

Fields Medalist

University Professor of Applied Mathematics

Brown University

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

3:30pm, Miller Learning Center, Room 102

Mathematics and the Diversity of Cultures

Mathematics has played a vital role in every culture. Looking at the three cultures -- China, India and the West -- one can, to some extent "replay" the history of math from three different starting points. Sometimes one finds that it developed with strong parallels but sometimes with deep differences. I will use the development of five mathematical ideas in these different cultures to illustrate this. Does this complex history support or refute the Platonic idea that mathematics has a universal existence, independent of its discovery by humanity?

Refreshments will be served at 3:00pm preceding each lecture.

There will be a banquet honoring Professor Mumford after this first lecture. Pre-registration is required. Print Banquet registration form here. For additional information please contact Julie McEver, julie@math.uga.edu

Thursday, April 16, 2009

3:30pm, Room 328 Boyd Graduate Studies Bldg.

The mathematical theory of shape and its applications to computer vision and medical imaging

The first of two talks, in which I will give a less technical introduction to the range of mathematical problems concerning "shape" which arise from object recognition and medical diagnosis. In particular, I will explain in simple terms why it may be useful for a physician to be aware that shapes form an infinite-dimensional non-linear manifold.

Friday, April 17, 2009

3:30pm, Room 328, Boyd Graduate Studies Bldg.

The mathematical theory of shape and its applications to computer vision and medical imaging, continued

I will go into the results from differential geometry that describe the geometry of these shape spaces in various different Riemannian metrics. Already, the manifold of simple closed plane curves carries three totally distinct types of metric. These ideas go back to Arnold but they are now attracting increasing attention.

For additional information about the 2009 Cantrell lecture series please contact any of the following:

Dino Lorenzini, lorenzini at math dot uga dot edu

Julie McEver, julie at math dot uga dot edu