Peter Winkler, Dartmouth College

Abstract

The past thirty years have seen a huge research boom at the interface of statistical physics, combinatorics, probability, and the theory of computing. DIMACS has had a big role in this emergence. We'll take a look at how DIMACS helped get things started, what has been accomplished, and where we are going from here.

Speaker Bio: Peter Winkler is William Morrill Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Dartmouth College (but serving this academic year as Distinguished Visiting Professor of the Public Dissemination of Mathematics at the National Museum of Mathematics). Prior to joining Dartmouth, Winkler was Director of Fundamental Mathematics Research at Bell Labs. Working primarily in combinatorics, probability, and the theory of computing, he was one of the key figures in the extensive DIMACS activities in “statistical physics,” including the Special Focus on Discrete Probability and the Special Focus on Discrete Random Systems. He holds a dozen patents on topics that include cryptology, holography, optical networking, distributed computing, and marine navigation. Winkler received the David P. Robbins Prize of the Mathematical Association of America and delivered the Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture at MathFest in 2018. He is the author of two collections of mathematical puzzles, a portfolio of compositions for ragtime piano, a book on use of cryptography in the game of bridge, editor (with Jaroslav Nešetřil) of the DIMACS volume Graphs, Morphisms and Statistical Physics, and Chair of the DIMACS advisory Board.

Slides  Video