-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Lunch 'n Learn today at noon: Computational Intractability Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:39:42 -0500 From: Jon Edwards Reply-To: Jon Edwards To: EOS-ANNOUNCE@Princeton.EDU Lunch 'n Learn banner Wednesday, December 10, 12:00 noon Computational Intractability: A Barrier for Computers, Man, and Science Sanjeev Arora Computers are increasingly important in society as well as every area of scholastic inquiry. Nevertheless, there appear to be tasks that are infeasible for current computers. In recent decades, we have begun to develop an understanding of what makes computational tasks "intractable" not just for current computers but for all foreseeable computers. This has implications for many scientific fields. The study of intractability can also yield positive benefits, such as cryptographic schemes, secure e-voting, and e-commerce. Recently the National Science Foundation decided to fund an "Expedition" center headquartered at Princeton that will study computational intractability. I will give an overview of both the field and what our center is trying to accomplish. *Sanjeev Arora* is a Professor of Computer Science and the Director of the Center for Theoretical Computer Science and the Director of the Center for Intractability. Most Lunch 'n Learn presentations take place in *Frist Multipurpose Room B*. Cookies and beverages are provided. /Bring your lunch and learn! / *Additional news:* facebookFacebook users take note. Lunch 'n Learn now has a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Princeton-NJ/Lunch-n-Learn-Information-Technol.... Become a fan to keep up with our activities. For other Education and Outreach services offerings, visit our web site http://www.princeton.edu/%7Eeos.