Title: The Asymptotisticians -- using approximate mathematical models to
understand the world.

Abstract:  In the age of the microchip, we constantly rely on computer software
to perform our calculations and help us understand practical problems.
However, computer programs seldom help us "understand" the problems we are
studying.  One field of mathematics that is falling out of our curricula our
"asymptotic methods".  Asymptotic methods are calculation tricks that we can
use to get approximate answers to hard questions where there is a variable that
is very large or very small.  While asymptotic methods are used everywhere in
mathematics research, they are also hugely useful in dealing with every-day
life as well.  In this talk, I'll present some simple examples of
asymptotic mathematics, and discuss how asymptotic ideas play a key role in
science and human thought.