The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the USF College of Arts and Sciences established the Nagle Lecture Series (NLS) in honor of the late R. Kent Nagle, a mathematician deeply interested in mathematics education and the impact of mathematics on society.
The most recent public lecture, held in April, welcomed Dr. Cristopher Moore of the Santa Fe Institute, who is currently serving as a professor specializing in the intersection of mathematics, physics, and computer science. Moore has also collaborated with the Santa Fe Symphony on an award-winning PBS documentary, “The Majesty of Music and Mathematics.”
Moore focused his lecture on our relationship with computers and how they help us to solve everyday problems—the fastest route across town, the shape a protein folds into, or a proof for an unsolved mathematical question.
But, he also focused on how sometimes finding a solution to an issue is like “looking for a needle in a haystack” and highlighted the limitations of computation.
Moore drew analogies between computation and evolution and took attendees from simple puzzles to the heights of universal computation, Turing's halting problem, and the nature of mathematical truth and creativity.
“This series was established in 1996, in honor of the late R. Kent Nagle, a USF faculty member deeply interested not only in mathematics, but also in mathematics education and the impact of mathematics on society. It is with great pride that the USF Department of Mathematics and Statistics can invite world-renowned scholars to speak on campus,” CAS Interim Dean Magali Michael noted in her opening remarks. “We are thrilled to have you all here tonight to hear from our guest speaker about computation and its limits. As you know, mathematics and computation impacts all other disciplines as well as society as a whole, especially in the contemporary digital age.”
(From left) Associate Professor Giacomo Micheli, Associate Professor Ivan Rothstein, Cristopher Moore, Assistant Professor Jiwoong Kim, and Professor Razvan Teodorescu. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
The following students were also presented with scholarships during the lecture:
Dane K. Harmon Memorial Scholarship
Mary Daram
Yesenia Reinoso
A.V. Rao Memorial Scholarship
Barrett McDonald
M.V. Johns Jr. Scholarship
Barrett McDonald
Amrit Subedi
Gamaralalage Dilmi Abeywardana
Math Scholarships Operating Fund
Amrit Subedi
Sara Lorca Garrido
R. Kent Nagle Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund
Sara Lorca Garrido
“It's easy to think of math in an abstract sense. These lectures are important, especially for students, as it lets them see the practical applications of math and how math can be used in so many areas,” said Sandra Nagle, widow of R. Kent Nagle. “I think this [lecture series] is a wonderful tribute to him. He loved to teach and promote education and it's great that his passion gets to live on through these lectures in his name.”
Learn more about attending a future Nagle Lecture.