Prof. Günter M. Ziegler holds Leibniz Lecture in São Paulo as part of the 3rd German-Brazilian Dialogue on Science, Research and Innovation

(09.10.14) On 30 September, at the invitation of the DFG’s Latin America Office and the São Paulo Liaison Office of the Free University Berlin, Prof. Günter M. Ziegler held a Leibniz Lecture in São Paulo on “Stars, Polyhedra, Ellipses and Soap Bubbles: Some Stellar Images between Geometry and Physics”. The Leibniz Lecture was also the kick-off of the 3rd German-Brazilian Dialogue on Science, Research and Innovation, which was organised by the German House of Science and Innovation São Paulo and this year engaged in discussions on „Dynamical Phenomena in Complex Networks“ and „Solutions for the Attractive Mediation of Mathematics“.

Prof. Günter M. Ziegler during his Leibniz Lecture in São Paulo

Prof. Günter M. Ziegler during his Leibniz Lecture in São Paulo

© Marcos Issa – Argosfoto

The first panel of the dialogue focussed on dynamical phenomena in complex systems, which are currently being investigated in the German-Brazilian International Research Training Group funded by DFG and FAPESP (funding organisation of the state of São Paulo). Researchers presented results of theoretical inquiries that are closely linked to studies on experimental and natural networks and which are becoming increasingly complex (from lasers and hybrid neuronal networks to the earth system). The main discussion was on the understanding of earth subsystems, such as precipitation patterns in South America in light of global warming and changes in land use.

In the second panel, German and Brazilian experts discussed questions and newest research findings on the teaching of mathematics, as well as the importance of the didactics of mathematics for other disciplines, such as physics. They also broached the issue of the role of didactics of mathematics in light of the declining interest in MINT subjects and questions regarding teaching methods within this discipline. Examples such as the annual Brazilian Olympics in mathematics were presented, among others.

During his visit to Brazil Prof. Ziegler also held two graduate workshops on the subjects “Tverberg Strikes Back” and “The Story of 3 N Points in a Plane“. The first took place on 30 September at the Institute for Mathematics and Statistics of the University of São Paulo (USP), the second on 2 October at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPE) in Rio de Janeiro.

Prof. Ziegler lectures on the subject „Tverberg Strikes Back” at the University of São Paulo

Prof. Ziegler lectures on the subject „Tverberg Strikes Back” at the University of São Paulo

Prof. Ziegler is an internationally recognised researcher in the field of discrete geometry. In 2001 he received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize in recognition of his achievements. In 2008 he also received the Communicator Award, which is presented annually by the DFG and the Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany to a researcher who has successfully brought his/her work to a wider audience.