Start the New Year by travelling 'Back to the Future'! In this virtual talk, discover the remarkable life of the revolutionary mathematical genius John von Neumann, a man who was key to the development of the computer.
About This Event:
From smart phones to evolutionary biology and nuclear weapons, all bear the fingerprints of John von Neumann. Born in Budapest at the turn of the century, von Neumann became a giant of the modern world. From contributing to the development of the nuclear bomb as part of the US Manhattan Project to expounding theories on Nanotechnology and Game Theory, von Neumann's work shapes our tech-centric lives. With his wife Klari, who received no education beyond High School, von Neumann was one half of Computing’s first power couple and delivered the first modern “stored program” computer.
In this virtual talk, Science Writer Ananyo Bhattacharya will discuss his latest book: 'The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann', published in October this year. Bhattacharya will tackle the remarkable journey of a genius on par with Albert Einstein, examining the relationship with Klari as Computing’s forgotten first couple.
In particular, Bhattacharya will discuss:
Von Neumann’s emergence as a mathematical protege, including his journey from Europe to the US.
The perfect balance of genius and circumstance which saw von Neumann sweep through different scientific fields, transforming society and politics.
How the complex mathematical work needed for the production of nuclear weapons and US defence fuelled the need for modern Computing.
Klari’s astounding ascent as a programmer and her work on the first truly useful complex programs to be executed on a modern computer.
Joining Information:
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