Symmetry is everywhere, from the natural world and human design to the laws and physics and mathematical patterns that shape our understanding of reality. Join Professor Travis Schedler, Professor of Mathematics, to explore how symmetry can reveal hidden patterns and help us make sense of complexity.
Please register to attend in person. A live stream link for online attendance is available on this page.Ìý
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 10 June!
Imperial Inaugurals are term-time lectures that celebrate our newest Professors, recognising their academic journey and showcasing their research.
Abstract
Symmetry is everywhere. We see it in the natural world, in human design, in the laws of physics and in the mathematical patterns that underpin our understanding of reality. At its heart, symmetry describes a transformation that changes something and yet, in an essential sense, leaves it unchanged. It helps us recognise order, uncover hiddenÌýpatternsÌýand explain why systems behave as they do. In many areas of science, from atoms and molecules to the laws of physics, symmetry is one of the key ideas that allows us to make sense of complexity.Ìý
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Yet the most powerful symmetries are often the least obvious. They may be hidden inside equations, encoded in geometry orÌýemergeÌýonly when a system becomes singular or extreme. Following symmetry into these more mysterious realms has transformed modern mathematics, revealing unexpected links between algebra, geometry and physics andÌýopening upÌýnew ways of understanding space,ÌýchangeÌýand interaction.Ìý
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Travis Schedler is a Professor of Mathematics at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ whose work investigates these deep and elusive forms of symmetry. In his inaugural lecture, he will show how symmetry appears across mathematics,ÌýphysicsÌýand everyday life, before introducingÌýsymplecticÌýsingularities: a striking new frontier that generalises classical symmetries and unifies ideas from across modern mathematics and theoretical physics.
Biography
Professor Travis Schedler is a distinguished mathematician working in geometry, algebra, and their connections to theoretical physics. A recipient of the prestigiousÌýLichnerowiczÌýPrize in Poisson Geometry, Schedler has made significant contributions to the field and its broader applications. He previously held a five-year AIM Fellowship and has taught at world-renowned institutions, including MIT and UT Austin. He co-organises the Geometry, Algebra, and Theoretical Physics seminar in collaboration with the theoretical physics group, fostering interdisciplinary exploration at the interface of mathematics and physics. Currently, he serves as the Director of the MSc programme in Pure Mathematics at Imperial.
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