Adventures of a mathematician
Details
ADVENTURES OF A MATHEMATICIAN
Saturday, November 8, 7:00 PM
Discussion Leaders: Paul Friedman and Christina Tønnesen-Friedman, Union College Mathematics Department
| 2020 | 102 min. | English and Polish (w/subtitles) |Germany - Poland - UK
Get ready for a thrilling ride through one of history's most fascinating stories! “Adventures of a Mathematician” explores the life of the brilliant Stanislaw Ulam, taking you straight to the heart of the nuclear age. This captivating tale offers an intimate look at a man who, despite his incredible achievements, remained humble and reflective.
Join Ulam, a gifted Jewish-Polish mathematician, as he navigates the whirlwind of the Manhattan Project: a secret mission that changed the world. Fleeing Poland just before the Nazis took over, Ulam not only found refuge in the US but also made his mark among a legendary team of European physicists at Los Alamos. His mathematical genius made him a key player in developing the atomic bomb, but he wrestles with the moral complexities of his work and the memories of his family left behind.
This film unfolds the gripping story of Ulam—a man torn between ambition and conscience. Prepare yourself for an engaging and heartfelt journey, beautifully adapted from his autobiography. Directed by Thor Klein
Individual films: $13, $7 JCC Member discount with cash or check to be paid at the door
Christina Tønnesen-Friedman and Paul Friedman are both mathematicians who have been at Union College since 2001. Christina, a differential geometer, is the Marie Louise Bailey Professor of Mathematics, while Paul, who studied representation theory, is a Senior Lecturer. After meeting in graduate school at SUNY Stony Brook, they were postdocs in Denmark before coming to Niskayuna. They have two (adult) children, Emil and Johanne, who attended the Schenectady JCC for many years for both childcare and summer camp.
DOWLOAD A PRINTABLE BROCHURE
Individual films: $13, $7 JCC Member discount with cash or check to be paid at the door
This program was made possible through the generous support of the JCC Friends of the Arts, the Epstein Jewish Cultural Fund, Meyer and Mary Kurland/Gebell Fund, Jonas and Edith Flemiberg Jewish Cultural Fund, the Jewish World, and by a grant from the Schenectady County Legislature through its County Initiative Program.
Refreshments for the films are donated by 518Kosher.