Towards a media ecology view of mathematical history

We’re delighted to be hosting Peter Ashwin for a talk via Microsoft Teams

Abstract

The development of mathematical concepts, theories and applications has been enabled by the emergence of new technologies of thought and communication (media, understood in the widest sense possible) that have given new approaches to mathematical questions. These new approaches compete with existing approaches to partially or completely replace previous ways of approaching these questions, as well as giving rise to new questions that could not be asked before. I will discuss this in relation to some developments that contributed to the emergence of calculus in the late 17th century. I will also speculate on possible impacts of the current electronic media revolution on mathematical thinking and communication.

Biography

Peter is a Professor of Mathematics specializing in dynamical systems theory and computational modelling at the University of Exeter. His research involves looking at nonlinear dynamical systems and applications: bifurcation theory and dynamical systems, especially synchronization problems, symmetric chaotic dynamics and spatially extended systems and nonautonomous systems.

Peter is currently PI of the EPSRC funded project “Applied Nonlinear Nonautonomous Systems: Theory, Methods and Applications” starting 2020 and am the Exeter PI for the EU Marie Curie ITN programme “CriticalEarth” running 2021-2025. As well as this, Peter is Associate Editor for the journals Chaos: An interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science, Dynamical Systems; an International Journal and Mathematical Neuroscience and Applications and a member of the EPSRC peer review college. For 2021-23 he is serving on the Council of the London Mathematical Society.

The talk will be streamed in Maths A17. Cakes and snacks will be provided! Link to join online below:

Join conversation (microsoft.com)