Speaker: Motoko Kotani     

Professor of Mathematics, Tohoku University

Director, Advanced Institute for Materials Research

Time: Saturday 13:30-14:30, 2015-12-12

Place: Lecture Hall, Main Bldg., Tsinghua University

Title: Geometry for Materials

Abstract: The history of the development of materials is that of progress of mankind itself. Whenever mankind has discovered new materials, such as stone implements, earthenware, ironware, metals, ceramics, or polymeric materials, our society has changed drastically, and along with changes in our society, new values have been created. Nowadays, technology has been develop to design microscopic structure like atoms and molecules. I would like to present how mathematics, geometry in particular, can contribute to materials design.

Introduction of Speaker:

Professor Motoko Kotani has been working at Tohoku University since 1999, and now she is the director of Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University.  Professor Kotani is also the president of The Mathematical Society of Japan.

As a pioneer in the research on Discrete Geometric Analysis, which is one of the new frontiers in Geometry of mathematics, Professor Kotani carries out research in Geometry, studying symmetries of figures; she also interested in the interplay of Geometry and Probability Theory. Also, to develop new and innovative materials, Professor Kotani has been promoting the collaboration between mathematicians and materials scientists.

In 2005, Professor Kotani won the Saruhashi Prize, which awarded yearly for top woman scientist who serves as a role model for younger female scientists. After getting her Bachelor Degree from Tokyo University in 1983, Kotani received her Ph.D. in mathematics from Tokyo Metropolitan University in 1990.