Father of fractals to lecture

- "Fractals and Scale-Invariant Roughness in the Sciences"

Today at 4 p.m. in Rackham Ampitheater

- Seminar on application of

fractals in physics

Tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in 340 West Hall

- Fractals in relation to financial markets

Friday at noon in 1640 Chemistry Building

By Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud
Daily Staff Reporter

The recently released movie "Pi" depicted the story of a fictional genius who sought to explain life through a mathematical equation. University students will get a real-life opportunity to brush with someone with a similar passion when Yale Prof. Benoit Mandelbrot speaks on campus during the next three days.

Best known as the founder of fractal geometry, Mandelbrot revolutionized the way complex patterns in nature are viewed. His theory of fractals has gone a long way towards explaining snowflakes, leaf patterns, cloud formations and countless other natural phenomena.

"It has been a great surprise and a great joy to discover one of the most pervasive patterns in nature," Mandelbrot said. "Fractals are encounterable in all of nature."

Mandelbrot will give the 1998 Ta-You Wu Lecture, titled "Fractals and Scale-Invariant Roughness in the Sciences," today at 4 p.m. in Rackham Amphitheater. The lecture will be a general introduction to fractals, Mandelbrot said.

Mandelbrot expressed amazement at the way his theory of fractals has found applications in many academic fields, ranging from physics and mathematics to economics and geology.

"Nobody could have expected it to develop to this point," Mandelbrot said. "In the mid'60s, it became clear that my work had wider applications."

Mandelbrot's "The Fractal Geometry of Nature," published in 1982, was a much-read and discussed work and has continued to sell well since.

His discovery spawned a whole body of work based on fractals. University physics Prof. Leonard Sander credits Mandelbrot with providing the seed for his area of research, as well as the work of numerous other scientists.

"A lot of people read his book and said, 'Oh my gosh' and were inspired," Sander said. "I just wouldn't have done my work if I hadn't been familiar with his book. I think that's true of a lot of people."

Mandelbrot will also speak at two other events this week. Tomorrow, he will present a seminar about the application of fractals in physics at 2:30 p.m. in room 340 of West Hall. Friday, he will give a lecture on fractals in relation to financial markets at noon in room 1640 of the Chemistry Building.

Mandelbrot's work is based on the observation that certain repetitions of complex patterns are found in nature. The way the veins in a leaf part is similar to the way the limbs in trees branch off. Close up, the patterns in nature often resemble the patterns of the whole.

"His work gave us a new way to look at things," said Sander, who helped organize the lecture. "I'm hoping people will learn about this stuff."

Mandelbrot's description of fractals also affected the way mathematics is perceived. Computer-generated fractals, noted for their beauty and complexity, have become a familiar sight in math classrooms across the nation.

"Without the computer, my work would never have been accepted so widely, especially by the young," Mandelbrot said. "Fractals are a way to get the young to understand that mathematics is not dry or boring."

Fractals have inspired artists as well as scientists. Mandelbrot said the artistic aspect of fractals has grabbed the popular imagination.

"General acceptance started when the haunting beauty of fractals became clear," Mandelbrot said.

10-07-98