Developing mathematics for more secure on-line =
communication![3D"Barry](3D"http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/files/news/images/sanders_250x194.jpg"= "3D\"Barry") =20
Keeping information secure requires =
sophisticated=20
mathematics. Funding for two new Collaborative Research Groups =
(CRGs) at=20
the University of Calgary focus on the mathematics needed for such =
studies=20
and will develop new theories that will advance science and =
society in=20
ways not understood yet.
In early March, The Alberta =
Ministry of=20
Advanced Education and Technology awarded $1.2 million in support =
of the=20
Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) program. =
The=20
University of Calgary received $600,000 in funding over three =
years from=20
PIMS. As well, PIMS is providing and additional $400,000 in =
support for=20
these two CRGs.
Today, the Department of Mathematics and=20
Statistics, is launching two new CRGs: Mathematics of Quantum =
Information,=20
and L-Functions and Number Theory. It is hosting public lectures =
this=20
afternoon with world-renowned mathematicians: Eyal Goren of McGill =
University and Gilles Brassard of Universit=C3=A9 de =
Montr=C3=A9al.
Barry=20
Sanders, who will be directing the Mathematics of Quantum =
Information=20
group, says these CRGs at the University of Calgary will address =
the=20
mathematics deficit that holds back progress in information =
security.=20
"There are unsolved mathematical problems that, if solved, =
could=20
show how to create and trust new means for secure communication," =
says=20
Sanders who is also a physics professor and director of the U of =
C's=20
Institute for Quantum Information Science.
"The societal =
problem=20
is that, from e-commerce to the battlefield, we rely on encryption =
to=20
communicate secretly through public channels, but our belief in =
security=20
relies on assumptions about the hardness of breaking the codes. In =
other=20
words, our trust is not proven but rather "believed". Much effort =
goes=20
into proving security under certain conditions or breaking =
security in=20
other conditions."
Some of the greatest mathematical =
problems=20
today are about whole numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 and so on), which is =
what number=20
theorists are interested in.
"Numbers form the alphabet of =
the=20
digital world. Although each individual character in this alphabet =
is=20
extremely simple, the subtle properties of the language they form =
are=20
directly responsible for the utility of number theory in the field =
of=20
digital communications: Every credit card transaction, every email =
sent,=20
relies on number theory to ensure it is transmitted securely," =
says=20
Matthew Greenberg, an assistant professor in the Department of =
Mathematics=20
who leading the L-Functions and Number Theory CRG. =
Although the=20
University of Calgary has been previously involved in PIMS' CRGs, =
this is=20
the first time PIMS' CRGs have been directed by researchers at the =
University of Calgary.
More information about today's =
launch: http://www.pims.math.ca/scientific-event/100406-pccl =
|
![3D""=20](3D"http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/files/news/images/UToday-May13-Banner.= "3D\"\"")
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April 6, 2010