Meadville, Pa. – April 16, 2007 – Professor Ronald Solomon of Ohio State University will give a talk titled “Finite Simple Groups: A Monstrous Project” on Tuesday, April 24 at 4 p.m. in Room 223 of Carr Hall at Allegheny College.
Solomon will discuss the history and sociology of the Classification of the Finite Simple Groups project and provide insight into the nature of the mathematical accomplishment it represents.
Sometimes called the “Thirty Years War” (1952-1982), the Classification of the Finite Simple Groups project is considered to be the largest mathematical project to date. It mobilized the energy and imagination of scores of mathematicians and filled over 15,000 journal pages.
The talk, hosted by Allegheny's mathematics department, is free and open to the public.
