Dr. Persi Diaconis ˇ71, MacArthur Fellow and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Stanford University, presents The Second Annual Professor Sharon Cosloy - Edward Blank Family Distinguished Scientist Lecture: “The Search for Randomness”.

"The Search for Randomness”:
“I offer a careful look at some of our most primitive images of random phenomena: flipping a coin, rolling dice, and shuffling cards. Practical experience shows that things are often not suitably random. A bit of physics and math show that randomness is possible. For example, I will describe my coin-tossing machine that tosses coins that always come up heads and some careful Math-Physics that show how real people’s coins behave. I will also discuss the “seven shuffles” theorem for riffle shuffling. I will draw conclusions to the use of “models” in many other areas of our lives.”
— Dr. Persi Diaconis

About Professor Persi Diaconis:
Persi Diaconis is Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Stanford University. Before graduating from City College in 1971, he spent ten years on the road as a professional magician. An early Macarthur winner and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, he is, perhaps, most well-known for proving that it takes seven ordinary riffle shuffles to mix up 52 cards.

About The Professor Sharon Cosloy - Edward Blank Distinguished Scientist Lecture:
Dr. Sharon Cosloy was a member of the City College biology faculty for 27 years and served as Chair of the Biology Department for six years. She was a beloved mentor, educator, wife and mother and a passionate investigator of life and science. The Professor Sharon Cosloy and Edward Blank Family Distinguished Scientist Lecture is regarded as the preeminent scientific lecture on campus. The City College of New York is grateful to Edward Blank and his family for their generous support.