Mathematics: The Beauty and the Power
Why should the study of heat flow lead to
the development of mathematical concepts that help in transmitting movies
over the Web? Does the natural beauty of mathematics lead to such powerful
interconnections?
Australian mathematician Professor Alan McIntosh addressed these questions
when he presented the 2002 Moyal Lecture titled Mathematics:
the Beauty and the Power on Friday 11 October.
Professor McIntosh, of the Centre for Mathematics and its Application at
the Australian National University, was also presented with the 2002 Moyal
Medal by Emeritus Professor John Loxton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
in recognition of his contributions to research in mathematics, in
particular his fundamental work in harmonic analysis and partial
differential equations.
"Harmonic analysis is hardly a household term, but its applications
couldn't be more familiar," Professor McIntosh says. "Earthquake
detection, brain tumour mapping and the transmission of information over
the Internet all depend on this field of mathematical study. Harmonic
analysis is the study of waves. Radio signals, sound waves, waves on a
pond, can all be investigated in terms of their harmonic frequencies.” |
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Medal Presentation &
Lecture
The proceedings were opened
by Associate/Professor John Corbett, chair of the Moyal Medal Committee,
and the medal was presented to Professor McIntosh by Deputy
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Loxton
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