AK Mallik Lecture

On August 8, 2024, Professor Ashok Kumar Mallik, a retired faculty member from IIT Kanpur's Mechanical Engineering Department, delivered an engaging talk titled "Curious Consequences of Simple Sequences." The lecture, aimed at a general audience, explored a variety of mathematical sequences and series, such as the Sîndel sequence, Farey sequence, and Fibonacci-Hemchandra sequence, along with their intriguing properties and real-world applications. He also discussed decimal patterns, parasite numbers, and the implications of these sequences in broader mathematical contexts.

The second half of the talk delved into the Harmonic series, highlighting its divergence and the slow rate of this divergence, and discussed topics like the Euler-Mascheroni constant, Kempner series, and the behaviour of prime-related series. Professor Mallik briefly touched on Euler's 'Golden Key' and concluded with insights into alternating series, including Riemann's significant findings. The talk showcased the fascinating interplay between seemingly simple mathematical concepts and their profound consequences.