Mathematics and Cryptography - A Marriage of Convenience?

Explore the intricate relationship between mathematics and cryptography in this thought-provoking conference talk presented at Eurocrypt 2020. Delve into a wide range of topics, from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on daily life to the complexities of elliptic curve cryptography and torus-based cryptography. Discover the importance of clear communication, community building, and ethical considerations in the field of computer science. Learn about key developments in cryptography, including Diffie-Hellman key agreement, pairing-based cryptography, and fully homomorphic encryption. Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in multiparty key agreement and cryptographic multilinear maps. Reflect on the value of collaboration, curiosity, and kindness in both professional and personal contexts. This 44-minute presentation by Alice Silverberg offers a unique blend of technical knowledge and life lessons, emphasizing the importance of relationships, effective communication, and maintaining a positive outlook in the world of mathematics and cryptography.

Intro
Life in the Age of the Coronavirus ...
Bad Haircuts in the Age of the Coronavirus
Health is the highest priority
Pictures and Stories
Working well together
Communication: Avoid Jargon
Community: the Ross Program
Computers: Doing the Right Thing?
Elliptic Curves
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (1980s)
IBM - they knew the law, and obeyed it
Being open to opportunities
Diffie-Hellman key agreement
XTR (Arjen Lenstra & Eric Verheul, 2000)
CEILIDH (Karl Rubin & A.S., 2003)
CEILIDH in the TV show NUMB3RS
Torus-Based Cryptography (Karl Rubin & A.S., 2003)
One-round 3-party key agreement (Antoine Joux, 2000)
Pairing-Based Cryptography
Cryptographic multilinear maps? (Dan Boneh & A.S., 2003)
One-round multiparty key agreement?
Grounds for pessimism, and grounds for optimism
One-round multi-party key agreement?
Working with others
Fully Homomorphic Encryption and Lattices
Communication is key
Get Curious, Not Furious
Relationships are negotiations
Listening
Alice's Adventures in Numberland
Kindness is a Superpower
We're all in the same boat