December 12, 2018 from 5:00 PM at Refectory of Augustinian Abbey at Mendel Square - Mendel Museum

Robert Bryant

The Best Possible Shapes of Surfaces

Abstract:  Much of classical mathematics involves finding a configuration or shape that provides an optimum solution to a problem.  For example, it has long been known (though a rigorous proof took quite a while to find) that the surface of least area enclosing a given volume is a round sphere.  There are many other ways to measure surfaces, though, and finding 'the' surface that optimizes a given 'measurement' (subject to some given constraints) remains a challenging problem that has motivated some of the deepest recent work in the mathematics of geometric shapes.
In this talk, I will explain some of the classic ways to measure shapes of surfaces and relate this to classical problems involving surface area (soap films and bubbles) and total curvature as well to as recent progress by myself and others on these important optimization problems.

Dear Friends of Mathematics and Hikes,

You are cordially invited to the 20th mathematical hike. It will take place on December 15th 2018.

Start at 10:03 at the tram stop "Proškovo náměstí". We have planned a 13 km path - climb up Hády hill, yellow path towards Hornek and through the valley of "Říčka" to the bus stop "Mariánské údolí".

Have a nice December,

Jana Bartoňová and Jonatan Kolegar, organizers,
Jan Slovák, Director of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Overleaf is a web service from the company Digital Science & Research Ltd. , through which users can create impressive documents in the system Latex .

The Faculty of Informatics purchased the users of all faculties of Masaryk University and selected other departments (ÚVT, CEITEC) by July 2019 For a license . With the license, an unlimited number of users can collaborate on one document, users can track changes in documents, return to historical versions of the document, and use service links Mendeley , GitHub and Dropbox .

CALL FOR  PHD FELLOWSHIPS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, MASARYK UNIVERSITY

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Masaryk University  invites applications for fellowships for PhD studies,  at the date depending on mutual agreement.

The main research areas of the department are:

• Category theory
• Number theory
• Ordered sets
• Semigroup theory
• Geometric complex analysis
• Lie theory and geometric theory differential equations
• Algebraic and geometric structrues of Mathematical Physics
• Geometric aspects of algebraic topology
• Nonlinear differential and difference equations
• Limit periodic and almost periodic systems
• Hamiltonian and symplectic systems
• Calculus of variations and optimal control
• Matematical modelling
• Statistics and data analysis

More details concerning the research areas can be found at

http://www.math.muni.cz/english/science-and-research/research-and-educational-activities.html

The fellowships in the amount of 14 000 CZK per month are initially for two semesters  with a possibility of extension, conditional on the student's performance. The candidates must hold a Master degree (before starting the PhD studies), or equivalent. They  should submit a letter of application accompanied by a CV including their study history  and a motivation letter to Martin Kolář ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) .

They should also arrange for at least 2 letters of recommendation to be mailed directly to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The applications will be assessed continuously. The successful applicants will be notified as soon as possible, but not later than 60 days after the submission.