Speaker: Jean-Paul Pier, Luxembourg

Title: Bourbaki, an epiphenomenon in the history of mathematics

Abstract: The constitution of Bourbaki was one of the most striking and the most influential moments in the history of the XXth century mathematics.

The phenomenon is quite unique due to its conception as well as its exceptionally long duration.

Thirty-five years after David Hilbert's fully axiomized treatise on elementary geometry, the Bourbaki group launched the axiomized presentation of large mathematical domains, in their utmost useful generality.

The Bourbaki archives up to the 1950's have been disclosed. They will be progressively available Online, accompanied by comments and explanations.

Place: Science and Technology Building I, Room 242

Refreshments will be served before the talk at 3:00 p.m. in Room 222.

Department of Mathematical Sciences
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MS 3F2
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
http://math.gmu.edu/
Tel. 703-993-1460, Fax. 703-993-1491