Many 'mathematical phenomena' find application and sometimes spectacular physical illustration in the physics of light. Concepts such as fractals, catastrophe theory, knots, infinity, zero, and even when 1+1 fails to equal 2, are needed to understand rainbows, twinkling
starlight, sparkling seas, oriental magic mirrors, and simple observations on interference, polarization and focusing. The lecture is intellectual but nontechnical, and strongly visual.
Prior to the lecture the Association of the Friends and Sponsors of DESY presents its thesis award.