Math Colloquium: Prof. Melissa Desjarlais

Prof. Melissa Desjarlais will give a talk in the department colloquium on Friday, February 1.  Her title and abstract are below.

Colloquium meets at 3:30 p.m. in GEM 120.  All are welcome, whether you’re registered for colloquium or not.

The Visualization of Mathematics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but how many equations is a picture worth?  When drawn appropriately, diagrams can enhance our understanding and appreciation for mathematics.  However, diagrams also can be misleading and lead us to erroneous conclusions. There has also been a connection between mathematics and art for thousands of years, with artists illustrating mathematical ideas in their works. During this talk we will examine a variety of mathematical images, focusing on both their facets and their flaws.