The Board of the Philosophy and Engineering Department has the pleasure of inviting you to the discussion evening on 19 March next on the topic:

To all (im)probability

On 19 March 2019, a lecture will be given by Prof Dr N.P. (Klaas) Landsman, in cooperation with the Society of Philosophy, on the topic "Towards all (un)probability, on the role of chance in science and philosophy". For more information on Prof Landsman's lecture see https://www.trouw.nl/home/probeer-het-toeval-niet-te-verklaren-anders-blijf-je-bezig~af7c83fd/

Nicolaas Pieter (Klaas) Landsman (Nijmegen, 11 September 1963) is a Dutch mathematician and autobiographer. After grammar school, Prof Landsman obtained his doctoral degree in physics with mathematics and astronomy cum laude at the University of Amsterdam in 1985. In 1989, he obtained his PhD there (also cum laude) with Karel Gaemers in theoretical high-energy physics. He then worked as a researcher at the University of Cambridge until 1997, interrupted by a one-year stay at the Institut für Theoretische Physik at the University of Hamburg. From 1997 to 2004, Landsman was a lecturer, and later a professor, at the University of Amsterdam. In 2002, he received a Pioniers scholarship from NWO.

Since 2004, he has been a professor of analysis at Radboud University Nijmegen. His research areas are mathematical physics and, to a lesser extent, the history and philosophy of physics. Landsman is also active as an author. His best-known popular science work is the semi-autobiographical book Requiem for Newton, which describes the history (and philosophy) of physics as a novel set against the backdrop of the University of Cambridge in the 1990s. Illustrative of his dry, somewhat English-looking sense of humour is the answer to the question whether Landsman ever engaged in anything other than modern physics: "Yes, I do, I'm fascinated by 17th-century physics!"[source?] Incidentally, in his youth he was a renowned chess player and in the volleyball world, the 2m tall striker was known as "the cannoneer".[source?] He renounced a professional chess career after Max Euwe (world champion from 1935-1937) refused to shake his hand after a deserved defeat.