You don’t need a crystal-ball or psychic abilities to predict the future. In fact, there is a much more scientific approach to making predictions about what the future holds. Florin Diacu, an author and mathematician, uses his knowledge of mathematics to investigate possible future outcomes.

Diacu grew up in Romainia and developed an interest in math at a young age after entering competitions. He explains, “I kept winning, so I decided ‘math is cool, let’s go for it!’” He went on to graduate with a diploma in Mathematics from the University of Burcharest in Romania and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

Currently a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Victoria, Diacu enjoys “communicating to people what mathematicians do and to take problems to help people better understand.” He explains, “I love my research…It’s so exciting when you think of something that no one has thought of before and you become the only one in the world that knows it.” His passion for research and sharing knowledge has led him to write several books.

In his book, Megadisasters; Predicting the Next Catastrophe, Diacu describes the difficulties in predicting extreme events, like earthquakes and hurricanes. The use of mathematical models makes it possible to predict when events, like an eclipse, will take place. Diacu’s book examines how scientists and mathematicians are developing more advanced mathematical models in hopes of one day being able to predict destructive events so that we can be more prepared for these disasters. Diacu explains this is “a necessary step in achieving global goals, not just for humans but for protecting all living things.”

“Everything we have today, the progress we made, we owe to science” Diacu exclaims, encouraging those considering a career in mathematics or science to dive in! “It is really the only field in which we can bring a huge contribution to society.”

Click here for more information about Florin Diacu and his research.