Many physical phenomena proceed in or on irregular objects which are often modeled by fractal sets. Using the model case of the Sierpinski gasket, the notions of Hausdorff, spectral and walk dimension are introduced in a survey style. These ``characteristic" numbers of the fractal are essential for the Einstein relation, expressing the interaction of geometric, analytic and stochastic aspects of a set.

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Colloquia are designed to be of interest to a general mathematical audience and to be accessible without specialist knowledge.

There will be wine and cheese afterwards.
 

Convenor: Ian Wanless - firstname.lastname@sci.monash.edu.au