PUBLIC LECTURE:
  The solution of the Poincare conjecture 
		
Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:00 - Webb Lecture Theatre (G21), Ground Floor, Geography Building, UWA
		
A Public Lecture by Professor J. Hyam Rubinstein, Department of
Mathematics & Statistics, University of Melbourne.

The Poincare conjecture was one of the most celebrated questions in
mathematics. It was amongst the seven millennium problems of the Clay
Institute, for which a prize of $1million was offered.

The Poincare conjecture asked whether a 3-dimensional space with `no
holes’ is equivalent to the 3-dimensional sphere.

In 2003 Grigori Perelman posted three papers on the internet ArXiv
outlining a marvellous solution to the Poincare conjecture, as part of
the completion of Thurston’s geometrisation program for all
3-dimensional spaces. Perelman introduced powerful new techniques into
Richard Hamilton’s Ricci flow, which `improves’ the shape of a
space. Starting with any shape of a space with no holes, Perelman was
able to flow the space until it became round and therefore verified it
was a sphere.

A brief history of the Poincare conjecture and Thurston’s
revolutionary ideas will be given. Hamilton’s Ricci flow will be
illustrated.

Famously, Perelman turned down both the Clay prize and a Field’s medal
for his work.

Cost: Free. RSVP to ias@uwa.edu.au
		
URL: http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/hyam-rubinstein-lecture
		
For more information:
  Institute of Advanced Studies
  ias@uwa.edu.au
  6488 1340

Starts       : Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:00
Ends         : Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:00
		
RSVP Required.
			
Last Updated : Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:30