The David Poole Lecture In Mathematics

Established in 2021 by Trent University Professor Emeritus David Poole, former chair of Trent’s Mathematics Department and a former Associate Dean of Arts and Science, this annual lecture series will feature talks about mathematics and/or mathematics education. The intended audience is the Trent community, local teachers and students, and the general public. 

Dots and Lines: Hidden Networks in Social Media, AI and Nature

Dr. Anthony Bonato

Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University

  • calendar icon
    Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  • time icon5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • location icon
    Event Space (Room 1.07), Student Centre, Trent University

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Lecture Abstract 

Networks measure interactions. They emerge in the spread of epidemics, in the firing of neurons in the brain, in the food webs that sustain ecosystems, and in the flow of information online. We move through networks every day, though most remain unseen. Network science has become a vibrant field that draws on mathematics, computing, biology, and the social sciences, offering fresh ways to understand the systems around us. Join me in exploring these networks of dots and lines, and discover how once you see them, the world never looks the same.

About Dr. Anthony Bonato

Headshot of Anthony BonatoDr. Anthony Bonato is an internationally recognized mathematician specializing in graph theory and network science. Currently a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Toronto Metropolitan University, Dr. Bonato's research focuses on real-world complex networks, including social networks, network dynamics, diffusion processes, and pursuit-evasion games on graphs such as Cops and Robbers and graph burning. He has authored over 150 research papers with more than 120 co-authors and has supervised over 65 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. He is the author of eight books, including Dots and Lines: Hidden Networks in Social Media, AI, and Nature, published in May 2025 by Johns Hopkins University Press. The book received a review in The Wall Street Journal, a rare honor for a debut trade publication. His previous books, such as A Course on the Web Graph and The Game of Cops and Robbers on Graphs, are widely utilized in mathematics education and research. His books are celebrated for their clarity and innovation, earning recognition as essential resources in the study of networks and graph theory. Dr. Bonato's articles have appeared in publications like Nature, Salon, and The Conversation. He also maintained a popular blog, The Intrepid Mathematician, where he explored mathematics in culture and society. Dr. Bonato continues to advance mathematics by connecting theoretical concepts with real-world networks. His research has deepened our understanding of complex systems and continues to influence the evolving field of network science.

For more information, contact math@trentu.ca or communityspeakerseries@trentu.ca.