SMRI Public Lecture: 2024 Mahler Lecture Series with Matthew Emerton ’The theory of numbers, from ancient Greece to the 21st century’ Monday 24th June, 2024 17:30-18:30 - Lecture 18:30-19:30 - Networking Reception with canapes Sydney Nanoscience Hub (SNH) (A31), Lecture Theatre 4002 (Messel) University of Sydney Free Public Lecture, register here: https://events.humanitix.com/smri-public-lecture-2024-mahler-lecture-series-with-matthew-emerton-the-theory-of-numbers-from-ancient-greece-to-the-21st-century Abstract: This lecture, aimed at members of the public interested in mathematics, will explain some of the key ideas in the theory of numbers, as developed over the last two thousand-plus years. Beginning with the theory of geometric constructions from ancient Greek geometry, and its relationship to the discovery and properties of irrational numbers, Professor Emerton will sketch in broad outlines how these ideas evolved, through the theory of equations and their symmetries as developed by Galois, culminating in a description of some of the contemporary aspects of the theory. His focus will be on emphasizing how symmetries of mathematical problems, some obvious but some not-so-obvious, play a hidden role in the nature of their solutions.. 2024 Mahler Lecturer: Professor Matthew Emerton, The University of Chicago The Mahler lectures are a biennial activity organised by the Australian Mathematical Society, and supported by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute. The tour invites a prominent international mathematician to travel to Australian universities to deliver lectures at a variety of levels, including several public lectures. for further information on the Mahler Lecture Series, visit: https://rhed.amsi.org.au/public-lectures/mahler-2024/ for more SMRI news and events see: https://mathematical-research-institute.sydney.edu.au/news-events/