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Talk focuses on 'search for randomness'
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 8 p.m.
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McCosh 10
Posted February 25, 2010; 04:54 p.m.
Persi Diaconis, a former professional magician who is now a professor of statistics and mathematics at Stanford University, will speak on "The Search for Randomness" at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 4, in McCosh 10.
Diaconis is well known for his work on problems involving randomness. Experiments and analysis show that some of the most primitive examples of random phenomena -- such as tossing a coin, spinning a roulette wheel and shuffling cards -- usually are not so random. In his lecture, Diaconis will examine the philosophical basis of randomness and implications for the use -- and misuse -- of statistical models.
The talk is designated as a Louis Clark Vanuxem Lecture sponsored by the University Public Lecture Series.