The Math/Stats Colloquium is excited to present Dick Canary (U. Michigan, visting MSRI) on “Non-Euclidean sports and the geometry of surfaces”.  Hyperbolic geometry is the most famous example of a non-Euclidean geometry, meaning that it satisfies all of Euclid’s axioms except for the parallel postulate.  It is also the prototypical example of a negatively curved geometry.  In this talk, we will attempt to obtain a visceral understanding of hyperbolic geometry by exploring what it would be like to live in hyperbolic space.  We will focus on what it would like to play various sports, for example, baseball, golf, and beach ball, in hyperbolic space.  If time permits, we will discuss the classification of surfaces and how surfaces with at least two holes can be given a hyperbolic geometry.

Background: No particular background necessary.  Newer math majors and lower-division students are especially encouraged to attend.

• Date: Wed Apr 29
• Time: 3-3:50pm
• Room: MH320
• Snacks: 2:30pm in MH331B

For more information, click here to see the full flyer, suitable for printing and posting.

Hope to see you there!

Upcoming events:

• Mon Apr 27: Math/Stats Teaching Career Day, 3:00-4:15pm, MH320
• Wed May 06: Erica Flapan, Pomona College (visiting MSRI)
  “Topological and Geometric Symmetries of Molecular Structures”