These talks will be self-contained presentations of mathematical concepts and theorems. They are intended to be accessible to all mathematics
students.  Coffee, tea and drinks will be provided.
 

The process by which our solar system was formed has intrigued mathematicians and astronomers for many centuries. Despite recent advances in observational astronomy, it is still uncertain how planets form from circumstellar disks.

In this talk I shall review what has been learnt so far in this field and shall promote the modern  Laplacian theory of solar system origin. Although regarded as being highly controversial, this theory has enjoyed a spate of successful predictions about the structure of the solar system, confirmed by NASA's fleet of interplanetary spacecraft.   The talk is to be accompanied by many colourful slides.