Thursday, April 8, 11:00-12:00

This lecture intends to provide a brief historical account of the development of the modern notion of solitons.  

This special, but important waves arose first in the context of disturbances on the surface of water, but were

 later found in many physical contexts. A few of the interesting open mathematical issues will be briefly 

described, and then the discussion will turn to an application of this kind of theory.  The issue in view arises 

in coastal engineering and is connected with beach protection strategies.