Jordan Ellenberg invites the UW-Milwaukee community take a “random walk” with him at the 2024 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in the Natural Sciences on Oct. 16.
A random walk is a mathematical concept that has implications across life and society.
Join Ellenberg as he describes the random walk’s beginnings when it was invented simultaneously by multiple people in multiple countries for multiple purposes ranging from physics to theology to mosquito control. He will also discuss the modern-day importance of the concept and its impact on large language models. Are they just mindless algorithms? Or can these models generate authentic, new ideas in mathematics and writing?
The Greater Milwaukee community is welcome to attend – advanced mathematical training is not required and the presentation is for a general audience. RSVPs are not required, but are appreciated.
Jordan Ellenberg is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Mathematics and Vilas Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at UW-Madison. He is also a New York Times bestselling author of the books “How Not to be Wrong” and “Shape: The Hidden Geometry of Absolutely Everything.” Most recently, he has been a collaborator with Google DeepMind on projects at the juncture of math and AI.
Books can be purchased from Boswell Book Company at the event (credit or debit only) and Ellenberg will sign books immediately following the lecture.
What: 2024 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in the Natural Sciences
When: Oct. 16, 4-5 p.m.
Where: UWM Chemistry Building, Rm. 108
Who: Jordan Ellenberg presents “From malaria to ChatGPT: the birth and strange life of the random walk”
More Information: uwm.edu/ellenberg