Kevrekidis to Deliver Talk in Fall 2020 Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series

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On Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 4 to 5:15 p.m., Panos Kevrekidis, department of mathematics and statistics, will present the second talk in the Fall 2020 Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series. His talk,“Nonlinear Waves and their Applications: From Oceans to Planets, From Lasers to Quantum Fluids, From Origami to Pandemics,” will be delivered via Zoom webinar. Registration is now open.

Professor Kevrekidis will explore a number of ideas about nonlinear waves and their implications to a diverse array of fields: from mathematics to physics, engineering, computing, biology, and even (a little) art. He will begin with some history from 18th and 19th century fluid waves in channels and oceans, associated engineering observations and artistic renderings. Next, he will share an intriguing story of (non) equity and inclusion around the first computer in post-atomic-bomb Los Alamos National Lab. The presentation will then pass through some Nobel Prize winning physical ideas related to the laser, quantum fluids and some of their recent variations pursued experimentally including here in Amherst. Finally, the audience will learn how in the past few years such wave phenomena have emerged in exotic materials, such as lattices made of origami elements, and how in the last few months they are being considered toward studying the spreading of pandemic infections. Time permitting, Kevrekidis will also touch upon the intriguing work of the UMass Amherst chancellor in the field of nonlinear waves.

Prior to the talk, John McCarth, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs y and Tricia Serio, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, will give introductions. A. Q&A session will follow the lecture.