You can’t hide from the primes
What are primes? A prime number is a positive integer with exactly two different divisors. For example, 2 is prime, as 1 and 2 divide it. The same is true for 3, 5, and 7. But 6 is not prime as it has four divisors 1, 2, 3 and 6. On first glance, we may think…
Interview with a mathematician: Lisa Jeffrey
I met Lisa Jeffrey in Ottawa this February, where we worked together on the NSERC Evaluation Group for Mathematics & Statistics. We walked back to the hotel from dinner one evening and discussed her field of symplectic geometry, which was largely a mystery to me. She described the symplectic camel and I knew then I had to learn…
Interview with a mathematician: Barry Mazur
Barry Mazur is the Gerhard Gade University Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Harvard University. Barry is one the world’s leading experts on number theory, and his work focuses on Diophantine geometry and elliptic curves. His research in topology is also legendary, and he settled the generalized Schoenflies problem as a doctoral student. He is highly awarded,…
Modelling networks of enemies and friends
Common adversaries In recent news, Canada and Mexico decided to coordinate on trade given the uncertainty faced by the US position on NAFTA. In another news story, an infectious disease physician used a virus to fight back an anti-biotic resistant superbug that was killing her husband. We hear of similar stories of unexpected alliances often. In a slogan: enemies of…