2010

2010 Rothschild Distinguished Lectures in Mathematics and Computer Science

Lectures given by

Prof. Gregory J. Chaitin

IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 16:30

Room 570 – Education Building –University of Haifa

Lecture I: Algorithmic Information as a Fundamental Concept in Physics, Mathematics and Biology

The concept of information, when formulated as program-size complexity, helps in understanding what is a law of nature, the limitations of the axiomatic method, and Darwin's theory of evolution.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 14:30

Room 570 – Education Building –University of Haifa

Lecture II: The Halting Probability Omega Irreducible Complexity in Pure Mathematics

Starting with ideas of Emile Borel, we exhibit a concrete example of a real number that is not only uncomputable, in an information-theoretic sense it is maximally uncomputable.

Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 11:00

Room 570 – Education Building –University of Haifa

Lecture III: Mathematics, Biology and Metabiology

It would be nice to have a mathematical understanding of basic biological concepts and to be able to prove that life must evolve in very general circumstances.  At present we are far from being able to do this. But I'll discuss some partial steps in this direction plus what I regard as a possible future line of attack.

The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation Institute for Interdisciplinary Applications of Computer Science