| Abstract: |
I will talk about what unification means to mathematicians, drawing parallels and contrasts with other fields (such as theoretical physics). As an example, I will use the Langlands Program, which has led us to the discovery of hidden connections between areas of mathematics that at first glance seem far apart, such as number theory, harmonic analysis, geometry, and even quantum physics. These kinds of links enable us to find order in seeming chaos, and they also give us glimpses of what lies beneath the surface -- deeper structures still waiting to be discovered. |
