Dr. Dwight W. Read, a renowned anthropology and mathematics expert from the University of California, Los Angeles will discuss the four major changes in the history of the universe on Friday, April 23 at California State University, Fresno.
The university’s Physics and the Mathematics departments will host the discussion titled “Four Major Events in the Universe: The Big Bang, the Origin of Life, Sexual Reproduction and the Origin of Symbolic Thought” from 3 to 4 p.m in Room 162 of the Mc Lane Hall on campus.
Read, a professor of Anthropology with a doctorate in Mathematics, has been published extensively on the use of mathematical models in biological anthropology, archaeology and social/cultural anthropology.
Read is currently developing a computer program for mathematically modeling the logic underlying kinship terminologies using algebraic structures known as semigroups, said Dr. Larry W. Cusick, chair of the Mathematics department.
The four events to be discussed by Read refer not only to major changes that have taken place in the processes underlying the formation of structured systems but also the mathematical models that represent the processes involved in the changes, Cusick said.
He stressed the significance of the discussion topic.
The Big Bang created the universal processes, the origin of life introduced formation of new units from existing units, sexual reproduction caused the formation of new units from parental units and the origin of symbolic thought has led to the construction of shared realities through language, Cusick said.
For further information call (559) 278-4009 or e-mail mfisher@csufresno.edu
Copy prepared by University Relations student intern Ravneet Padda.
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