Forthcoming
A multi session course starting on Tuesday 13/10/2026 15:00-17:00, @P3.10 & online.
Persi Diaconis, Stanford University
Riffle shuffling, overhand shuffling, and "smooshing" cards around a table
What really happens when we shuffle a deck of cards — and what mathematics lies behind this seemingly simple act?
Persi Diaconis explores the mathematics of three ways that real people shuffle real cards.
Remarkably, these three methods call for threes quite different kinds of mathematics.
Riffle shuffling leads to elementary combinatorics; overhand shuffling involves sophisticated coupling methods; and smooshing leads all the way to stochastic partial differential equations.
Behind these familiar ways of mixing cards lie challenging questions in analysis and probability.
Yet the problems themselves are easy to understand, making them an engaging gateway to surprisingly deep mathematics.
Along the way, the course will reveal connections to card tricks, gambling, probability, and other areas of mathematics.
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Please register to participate in person and arrive a little earlier: https://pmp.math.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/course_registration
Probability in Mathematical Physics Seminar 
From Statistical Mechanics to Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Field Theory or even Hydrodynamics, Probability has progressively become a fundamental toolbox in Mathematical Physics, unifying methods of research in domains that were regarded as separate for a long time. This series of seminars aims to showcase bridges between such domains, including those too recent to be regarded as associated with Theoretical or Mathematical Physics.
To receive email announcements please register.
Registration in Persi Diaconis course:
https://pmp.math.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/course_registration
Zoom password: pmp
To access the Zoom link, always click on “Online” in the seminar you want to attend, or enter
https://tecnico-pt.zoom.us/j/94071049412