On Math, Shadows, and Digital Sundials

Geometric measure theory is a branch of mathematics that, loosely said, focuses on studying geometric properties of objects, such as size and shape. In this talk, Silvia Ghinassi will discuss: How do we measure size? How do we know when an object is one-dimensional, or two-dimensional? What if it is neither? How can we describe shape? What does a cylinder look like if I look at it from below? And from the side? An interesting application to a theorem by Falconer related to these questions is the “Digital Sundial”, which she will discuss at length. This will all be explained with lots of hand waving, props and pictures!