The element of chance enters not only in our daily affairs, but also in practically every branch of science. This lecture will discuss both aspects. In describing the outcomes of chance, a central role is played by the Random Walker, a spirited individual who takes successive steps in random directions. The resulting trajectory, or Random Walk, has become an enduring paradigm across the sciences and mathematics.
This lecture will attempt to bring out something about the history of Random Walks; something about their properties, both intuitive and counter-intuitive; and something about their wide-ranging applications in science.
