About:

Number Theory is among the oldest and most active areas of mathematics research. Its origins, counting and the study of numbers, can be traced down to prehistoric times. Over the ages, it has evolved into a sophisticated branch of mathematics, replete with exciting results as well as very deep and far reaching open problems. In this lecture, we will present a brief history of number theory, focusing on those aspects which are relevant to one of its deepest open questions: Hilbert's 12th problem, formulated by the German mathematician David Hilbert in 1900. We will close the lecture with brief comments on the exciting recent progress made on Hilbert's 12th Problem by several mathematicians in the audience.

The lecture should be accessible to high school and university students and their teachers, scientists and mathematicians of all backgrounds.