Contacts
University Events

Is Randomness Truly Random? Avi Wigderson Unveils Its Secrets

, by Diane Orze
Abel Prize and Turing Award winner, Avi Wigderson, will deliver an unmissable talk at Bocconi on April 2. A journey through mathematics, computer science, and randomness to uncover whether chance truly governs our world

The world around us is governed by uncertainty: from weather forecasts to financial markets, from cybersecurity to gambling, the concept of randomness is central to many disciplines. But is the universe inherently random or deterministic? And, more importantly, can we really tell the difference between the two?

These are the questions that Professor Avi Wigderson, one of the most distinguished scientists in computational theory, will address in his talk “Randomness”, scheduled for April 2 at 1:30 PM in Aula Franceschi (Sarfatti 25).

A Double “Nobel” in Mathematics and Computer Science

Wigderson, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Princeton University, is a leading figure in computational complexity theory. In 2021, he was awarded the Abel Prize, the highest recognition in mathematics, and in 2023, the Turing Award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Computer Science.” His work has revolutionized our understanding of the role of randomness in information processing, proving that in many cases, randomness can be efficiently simulated—an insight with profound implications for cryptography, optimization, and artificial intelligence.

“Humanity has pondered the meaning and utility of randomness for millennia. Computational theory has revealed that, surprisingly, many applications we believe rely on randomness can actually be replicated in deterministic systems or with imperfect randomness,” explains Wigderson.

This talk is a unique opportunity for the academic community and science and technology enthusiasts. Alon Rosen, Director of Bocconi’s Department of Computing Sciences, highlights the significance of the event: “Having a guest of such standing is an extraordinary opportunity to explore fundamental questions spanning mathematics, computer science, and data science. Avi Wigderson’s presence testifies to Bocconi’s ambition in the field of computational research.”

To attend the event, please register here: https://www.unibocconi.it/en/events/randomness

University