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Schedule including this lecture.
Goddard Space Flight Center Engineering Colloquium
Date: Monday, September 16, 2002
Starting from a few computer experiments, Stephen Wolfram has spent more than twenty years developing a new approach to science, described for the first time in his book A NEW KIND OF SCIENCE. Basic to his approach is the idea of studying not traditional mathematical equations but instead rules of the kind embodied in the simplest computer programs. A key discovery is that such rules can lead to behavior that shows immense complexity and mirrors many features seen in nature. Wolfram has built on this to tackle a remarkable array of fundamental problems in science, from the origins of apparent randomness in physical systems, to the development of complexity in biology, the ultimate scope and limitations of mathematics, the possibility of a truly fundamental theory of physics and the character of intelligence in the universe. When Wolfram's book was released on May 14, 2002, it became an instant bestseller, and is now showing many signs of initiating a major paradigm shift in science. Wolfram's presentation will cover some of the key ideas and discoveries in his book, outlining their implications for such diverse topics as fluid turbulence, gravitational dynamics, extraterrestrial life, and new directions in technology, and discussing their personal and historical context. An extended question and answer period will be included.
Stephen Wolfram was born in London and educated at Eton, Oxford, and Caltech. He received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics in 1979 at the age of 20, having already made lasting contributions to particle physics and cosmology. In 1981, his work was recognized by a MacArthur award. In the early 1980s, he made a series of classic discoveries about systems known as cellular automata, which have yielded many new insights in physics, mathematics, computer science, biology, and other fields. In 1986, he founded Wolfram Research, Inc. and began the creation of Mathematica, now the world's leading software system for technical computing and symbolic programming, and the tool that made A New Kind of Science possible. Over the past decade, Wolfram has divided his time between the leadership of his company and his pursuit of basic science.
Colloquium Committee Sponsor: James Rash
Engineering Colloquium home page: https://ecolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov