There was a time when cryptography was a primary concern only for ambassadors and military commanders, but in the age of the internet, the need for safe, secure, and secret communications has grown into big business affecting nearly everyone in a personal way. The primary tool for making and breaking secret codes has always been mathematics. In this lecture, we will explore how some centuries-old mathematical ideas have found their way into modern cryptography. No prior experience with cryptography or mathematics will be assumed, but a pocket calculator may come in handy.

Chris French, assistant professor of mathematics, received his B.A. from Williams College and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He spent two years at the University of Illinois before coming to Grinnell in 2003. Chris does research in Algebraic Topology, but he first learned about Cryptography by teaching a tutorial on the subject last Fall. He hopes to use the tutorial in the future as an opportunity to explore other interdisciplinary interests.