2019-2020 Royal Canadian Institute Lecture: Keith Devlin

The Fields Institute is a centre for mathematical research activity - a place where mathematicians from Canada and abroad, from academia, business, industry and financial institutions, can come together to carry out research and formulate problems of mutual interest. Our mission is to provide a supportive and stimulating environment for mathematics innovation and education.The Fields Institute promotes mathematical activity in Canada and helps to expand the application of mathematics in modern society.

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<P><SPAN>What do mathematicians do now that machines can “do (all) the math”?<BR></SPAN><SPAN>Keith Devlin, Stanford University</SPAN></P>
<DIV>Dr. Keith Devlin is the Director of the <A HREF="http://sumop.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Stanford Mathematics Outreach Project</A> in the Graduate School of Education, a co-founder and Executive Director Emeritus of the university's <A HREF="http://hstar.stanford.edu/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">H-STAR</A> institute, a co-founder of the Stanford <A HREF="http://mediax.stanford.edu/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">mediaX</A> research network, and a Senior Researcher Emeritus at <A HREF="http://www-csli.stanford.edu/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">CSLI</A>. He is a World Economic Forum Fellow, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. His current research is focused on the use of different media to teach and communicate mathematics to diverse audiences. In this connection, he is a co-founder and President of an educational technology company, <A HREF="http://brainquake.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BrainQuake</A>, that creates mathematics learning video games. He also works on the design of information systems for intelligence analysis. Other research interests include: theory of information, models of reasoning, applications of mathematical techniques in the study of communication, and mathematical cognition. He has written 33 books and over 80 published research articles. Recipient of the Pythagoras Prize, the Peano Prize, the Carl Sagan Award, and the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award. In 2003, he was recognized by the California State Assembly for his "innovative work and longtime service in the field of mathematics and its relation to logic and linguistics." He is "the Math Guy" on National Public Radio.</DIV>
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<DIV><EM>Delivered in partnership with: <A HREF="https://www.rciscience.ca/events-1/whatdomathematiciansdo" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Royal Canadian Institute for Science</A> <A HREF="https://www.rciscience.ca/events-1/whatdomathematiciansdo" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><BR></A></EM></DIV>
<DIV><BR>Talk Description: <BR>
<DIV><SPAN><SPAN>For thousands of years, calculation (numerical and symbolic) was the price we had to pay to do or use mathematics. But that is no longer the case. Since the late 1980s, we have had machines that can perform any step-by-step mathematical procedure. Those systems can do it with far more variables than a human ever could, they never make mistakes, and they do it in a fraction of a second. Moreover, many of those tools are easily available and free. As a result, for the last thirty years, professional mathematicians, or those who use mathematics professionally, have not performed any kind of calculation by hand (except in very special circumstances). So what exactly do the math pros do? And how do we teach the next generation to live and work in this world?</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
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2019-2020 Royal Canadian Institute Lecture: Keith Devlin

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2019-2020 Royal Canadian Institute Lecture: Keith Devlin

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