October 4, 2006 Source: :
http://www.augustana.ca/include/auc_news/full_view.php?id=124 Seminar: "The Science of
Ballistics: Mathematics Serving the Dark
Side" WHAT:
"The Science of Ballistics: Mathematics Serving the Dark Side". A seminar by
Dr. W. Hackborn
WHEN: Monday Oct 16, 12:30-1:30
WHERE: M010 "In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (popularly known
as Star Wars) prompted strong debate in the mathematics community regarding
the morality of research funds associated with this program. In earlier
times, the use of mathematics in the waging of wars was far less
contentious, and many well-known mathematicians (including Galileo, Newton,
and Euler) contributed to the theoretical foundations of ballistics, or
gunnery as it was sometimes called. Their involvement was related to the
fact that ballistics is rooted in the study of motion, a subject which lies
at the heart of the scientific revolution. Ballistics, consequently, is the
fascinating product of social, political, military, technological, and
scientific forces. This talk will look at contributions of mathematicians to ballistics from
late renaissance times to World War I, with some attention paid to social
and other contexts. It will be accessible to a wide audience (i.e. formulas
will be shown but are not critical to understanding)." All are welcome. Sponsored by the Science Dept, Augustana Faculty, Univ. of Alberta
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