Chaos refers to seemingly random and unpredictable dynamics of a system that evolves in time. Certain chaotic systems exhibit an additional level of complexity: intermittent extreme events that are noticeably distinct from the usual chaotic dynamics.  These extreme events include ocean rogue waves, extreme weather patterns, and epileptic seizure.  I will discuss several examples of these…

From x-ray machines to luggage scanners, our lives depend on imaging devices that let us “see” what is impossible to observe with the naked eye. I will explain some of the mathematical ideas that make image reconstructions possible. Along the way, we will solve some fun puzzles that are related to image reconstructions. This talk…

We all tackle hard problems everyday, like finding a parking spot in the Dan Allen Deck. However, there are special types of problems which are hard even for a computer to solve. Reductions, conversions of one problem into another, play a critical role in determining the hardness of these computational problems, and lead to philosophical questions…