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James Fill Emeritus Professorial Lecture
March 16, 2023 @ 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Join us at the Emeritus Professorial Lecture to recognize James Fill as an emeritus professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics. The lecture is entitled: “‘Tree’ Branches of Mathematics: Probability, Complex Variables, and Real Analysis (featuring Roots and Logs).”
Abstract:
Graphs known as trees have been of interest to mathematicians for more than 150 years, and to Fill since his undergraduate years minoring in computer science. In this lecture, Fill will describe a model for random trees known as simply generated trees and the very closely related notion of critical Galton–Watson trees conditioned on size. After a brief historical review, he will demonstrate how his work on trees, from past joint projects with former PhD students Bob Dobrow and Nevin Kapur and the late great mathematician Philippe Flajolet to current work with Uppsala University’s Svante Janson and Stephan Wagner, has benefited from the use of three fields of mathematics: probability, complex variables, and real analysis. The focus of the talk will narrow gradually to an asymptotic study of (i) sums of powers of subtree sizes and (ii) the so-called “shape functional” for conditioned critical Galton–Watson trees.
A live stream will be available on the Johns Hopkins Engineering YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
The Professor Emeritus Lecture Series honors our distinguished senior faculty members as they transition to the next phase of their careers. These talks provide them with an opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments and share with us their vision for the future.