On the importance of MATH+ Friday colloquia (written by a BMS student for BMS students)

What makes a good mathematician? To speak in broad generalities, one needs to have a strong mathematical apparatus and a bold vision. It is certain that reproducing elegant proofs and solving problems ensures the development of a mathematical apparatus. On the other hand, shaping a bold vision is a rather subtle matter. In general, a starting point for the development of a bold vision could be a colloquium talk. A talk, which showcases fascinating research results as well as current trends in Mathematics, could stimulate the emergence of new ideas. More specifically, it could be said that such talks leave ”traces” in the brain, which accumulate over time. Just like the effect of a talk is intangible, there is probably no universal measure for the degree of understanding. Certainly, if a talk happens to be very closely related to a person’s specialisation, then more details could be followed, and hence, something similar to the standard measure can be used. However, it would perhaps be too restrictive to say that a talk is understood only if most details are clear. Even an attempt to follow the main story line exposes a person to a fresh perspective. And this could potentially become the source of inspiration. Moreover, such colloquia contribute to our perception of Mathematics in its entirety by offering the chance to think about analogies in different areas.