What is Organic Mathematics?

Jonathan Borwein
Math Dept., Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C.
V5A 1S6 Canada

Peter Borwein
Math Dept., Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C.
V5A 1S6 Canada

Robert M. Corless
Dept. of Applied Mathematics, UWO
London, Ontario
Canada

Loki Jörgenson
Math Dept., Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C.
V5A 1S6 Canada

Nathalie Sinclair
Math Dept., Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C.
V5A 1S6 Canada


Hypertext
Other available formats


Abstract:

Mathematics is more important now than it has ever been. More mathematics is done both inside and outside of universities. Admittedly not all of it is called mathematics---among other things, it might be called robotics, or financial analysis, or operations control, or engineering, ---but when we look closely there is no doubt that we are living in the truest Golden Age for mathematics to date. There are indications that this Golden Age is giving way to yet another due to the influence of technology. Mathematics has fundamentally affected technology, most notably computers. It is now clear that the converse will also be true. Technology, usefully falling into five major categories, has already changed mathematics dramatically, and the pace of change is accelerating.