Baylor Welcomes Mathematician Gunther Uhlmann for Lecture on Concept of Invisibility

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WACO, Texas (Oct. 14, 2014) – The Baylor University department of mathematics will welcome to campus world-renowned mathematician Gunther Uhlmann, Ph.D., who will examine the possibilities of invisibility in everyday life during a lecture at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Marrs McLean Science Building, Room 101.
Uhlmann, the Walker Family Endowed Professor of Mathematics at the University of Washington, is considered an expert on the subject of cloaking and invisibility and will present a lecture titled “Harry Potter’s Cloak.”
Lance Littlejohn, Ph.D., professor, chair of the department of mathematics and associate dean for research in the graduate school, said the subject is challenging even for those in the field.
“We bring in the world’s top mathematicians to explain, in simple and general terms, what they are doing,” he said. “It’s important for us to bring in speakers who can reach a general populace.”
Until recently, the concept of invisibility has only been a fantasy, but Science Magazine named it one of the top 10 breakthroughs of the year in 2006.
“The implications and applications of invisibility are boundless,” Littlejohn said. “I want people to leave the lecture with the idea that yesterday’s impossibilities are tomorrow’s realities. We now live in a time where science continuously meets and conquers science fiction.”
Anyone with an imagination and thirst for learning would enjoy the lecture, Littlejohn said.
Marrs McLean Science Building is at 1214 S. Fourth St. For more information, call the department of mathematics at (254) 710-3561.
by Kristen Bennett, student news writer, (254) 710-6805
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