Hamilton Lecture 2018 - On coin tosses, atoms and forest fires

Hamilton Lecture

In his lecture we will encounter some of the mathematical objects arising naturally in probability theory, as well as some of their surprising properties. In particular, we will see how one of these objects was involved in the confirmation of the existence of atoms over 100 years ago and how new properties of related objects are still being discovered today.

Speaker

Martin Hairer has advanced the field of stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) by providing a toolkit for addressing these previously thought inaccessible problems. Martin’s work is also furthering the more general areas of stochastic analysis — a part of mathematics concerned with random processes — and stochastic dynamics. In August 2014 he was awarded the Fields Medal for his outstanding contributions to the theory of stochastic partial differential equations, and in particular for the creation of a theory of regularity structures for such equations.

Hamilton Day is supported by Arup and The Irish Times.

Photo credit - The Royal Society

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