Maths news_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

HandsOn Thailand_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Sun, 22 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

From January until May 2022, Faculty International Office (FIO) has been working very closely with our agent HandsOn Thailand on a Social Media campaign to promote the School of Economics, Social and Political Science (ESPS), �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� School of Mathematics (SMS) and �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� Business School (SBS) .

PhD & PGT Fair - January 2022_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Fri, 20 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

DRAGON ready to fight coronavirus_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Scientists at the University of �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� are leading molecular phenotyping in a €14m EU-funded international consortium for Covid-19 advanced diagnostics.

Statistics and Operational Research climbs to 37th in the world _�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The QS World Rankings by Subject 2020 has been announced, placing Statistics and Operational Research at the University of �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� at 37th in the world, climbing 11 places.

January 2020 Research highlights_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

January was a busy month for many of our leading Mathematicians, as they were involved in a variety of research activities:

Worshipful Company of Actuaries Lecture by John Taylor_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Technology: A Red-Eyed Terminator or an Actuary’s Best Friend?

Talented Mathematics postgraduates win recognition at CORMSIS Prize-giving event_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

CORMSIS MSc students from Mathematical Sciences have been recognised for their achievements in problem solving.

Students take their first steps towards successful careers in analytics_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Current students gained unique insights into the wide range of opportunities available to them at the University of �췢��_�췢��APP-��|��’s Careers in Analytics Recruitment and Networking event on campus.

Operational Research at the University of �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� – Careers and Employability_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The University of �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� attends the Operational Research (OR) Society Careers Open Day every November in Birmingham.

UK’s top young codebreakers revealed_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Winners of a national competition aimed at getting school and sixth-form students enthused and passionate about maths and codebreaking have been announced.

�췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� set to support development of next-gen gravitational wave detectors_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

A consortium of seven British universities, including the University of �췢��_�췢��APP-��|��, has secured £7m in support from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Infrastructure Fund.

The project brings together gravity experts from the universities of Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Portsmouth, �췢��_�췢��APP-��|��, Strathclyde and the West of Scotland. Over the next three years, they will develop designs for new mirror coatings, data analysis techniques, and suspension and seismic isolation systems for use in two future international gravitational wave detector development projects.

The projects - Cosmic Explorer in the United States and the Einstein Telescope in Europe - are currently in the early stages of design work. They are expected to be fully constructed and online by the end of the next decade.

The international collaborations behind the next-gen detectors expect they will be sensitive enough to detect signals from the very edge of the universe.

What are gravitational waves?

Gravitational waves are faint ripples in spacetime caused by enormous astronomical events like the collision of black holes.

Gravitational wave detectors work by bouncing lasers between mirrors suspended at each end of long pipes often arranged in an L-shape. As the waves pass through the detectors, they cause miniscule variations in the distance between the mirrors measured by the lasers.

Analysis of the data captured during the passthrough of the gravitational waves can reveal a wealth of information about their origins in space.

The LIGO observatory made the historic first detection of gravitational waves in 2015, opening up an entirely new field of astronomy which ‘listens’ for vibrations in spacetime, instead of looking for information from across the electromagnetic spectrum. Since then, gravitational wave detectors have made spectacular discoveries – including signals from more than 100 pairs of colliding black holes.

Next generation detectors

The next generation of detectors will be significantly more ambitious than current designs, with lasers bounced between mirrors suspended free of external vibration placed up to 40km apart instead of 4km. The mirrors, too, will be bigger and heavier as they double in diameter to around 60cm.

The expanded reach of the detectors will help cast new light on how black holes were formed in the earliest epochs of time, how matter behaves in neutron stars, and pick up gravitational waves which current observatories are unable to detect.

Professor Nils Andersson, co-investigator on the project and Head of the University of �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� Gravity group said: “I am very excited about this project. It is an important step towards the development of incredibly sensitive gravitational-wave observatories that will allow us to explore the dark side of the Universe at a level of detail we can only imagine today. We will learn so much more about black holes and the extreme physics of neutron stars. This promises to be a fascinating journey.”

Scientists from the UK, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), have been involved in gravitational wave research for several decades. They contributed to the design, mirror suspension technology and data analysis which underpins the current generation of gravitational wave observatories - LIGO in the United States, Virgo in Italy, and KAGRA in Japan.

‘Hundreds of detections a year, to hundreds of thousands’

Professor Sheila Rowan, Director of the University of Glasgow’s Institute for Gravitational Research and lead investigator on the project, said: “I’m excited to be continuing our work with the STFC and partners across the UK to develop key components of the next generation of gravitational wave observatories, which have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of the universe.

“We’ve learned a vast amount from LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA already, and we’re currently partway through our fourth major observing run which is bringing us, on average, several new detections a week. The next-generation could deliver a leap from hundreds of detections a year to hundreds of thousands – a vast treasure trove of new information which brings with it new challenges in processing the data which we’ll be working to help solve in the years to come.

Professor Mark Thomson, Executive Chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Champion for Infrastructure, said: “The detection of gravitational waves has been one of the most exciting recent developments in science and has provided us with entirely new way of observing the universe.

“This new UKRI investment will enable UK scientists to play a key role in the international effort to develop the next generation of even more sensitive gravitational wave observatories, which will greatly expand our understanding of the cosmos.”

“The UK has been a key contributor to Initial and Advanced LIGO, and currently the A+ upgrade in the US, and the continued participation of our UK colleagues gives us confidence that our scientific goals can be realized,” said David Shoemaker, Project Manager for the Cosmic Explorer Project. “The unique insights of the UK team in both instrumentation and observational science are important ingredients in realizing our shared vision of Cosmic Explorer.”

“The Einstein Telescope project is now completing its preparation phase and moving towards implementation,” said Michele Punturo, spokesperson of the ET Scientific Collaboration. “The precious contribution of our UK colleagues, now supported by this grant, strengthens the ET collaboration and gives us confidence that ET's ambitious goals will be achieved.”

CORMSIS MSc students work out Boeing optimisation task_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

The Boeing challenge has been a firm fixture of the academic year for a while and serves as a mathematical icebreaker during induction week. It was held virtually for the first time this year, with the Boeing team facilitating the activity remotely.

Well done and thanks to all who attended, presented, facilitated, marked or otherwise contributed and made the event a success.

We are looking forward to working with the students and seeing where their CORMSIS journey takes them.

Mathematical Lives event_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Students Noah Uggalle and Nate Waterfield delivered two short talks on Marjorie Lee Browne (who in 1949 became one of the first African American Woman to earn a PhD in Mathematics) and Elbert Frank Cox Jr. (the first African American to earn a PhD in Mathematics, in 1925). We heard about the discrimination they faced in securing academic employment and publishing papers. The talks were followed by an open discussion over tea and cake.

STAG Public Lecture 2024_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Professor Sera Markoff from the University of Amsterdam spoke about: “Observing the unobservable: a multi-messenger view of black holes in the Event Horizon Telescope era”.

The lecture provided a first-hand account of the latest developments in black hole astronomy by one of the leading scientists in the field. The event was a great success, attended by academics, students, alumni, the general public, and a significant number of high school students. The high school students were also invited to attend a masterclass in the morning, where they learned more about gravity and black holes with interactive activities.

Eurostrings 2024 meets Fundamental Physics UK_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

The conference was a one-off joint meeting combining two major events: Eurostrings and the annual Fundamental Physics UK conference.

Eurostrings is the main European conference series on String Theory, Quantum Gravity, Quantum Field Theory and related topics. Fundamental Physics UK is a virtual research centre which coordinates theoretical physicists in the UK who work on Fundamental Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

The conference had over 250 registered participants from 27 countries including from all over Europe, North and South America, and Asia.

The conference showcased cutting-edge research in Fundamental Physics from all around Europe, and from all regions of the UK. There were review talks from keynote speakers on a variety of topics, plus a broad range of invited and contributed research talks, in both plenary and parallel sessions.

This event was generously supported by funding from several sources including the �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� Theory Astrophysics and Gravity (STAG) Research Centre, the School of Mathematical Sciences, the School of Physics and Astronomy, Fundamental Physics UK / Science and Technology Facilities Council, The Royal Society, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and the London Mathematical Society.

SPINS-UK 2024_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

SPINS-UK is an acronym: Science Possibilities Involving Neutron Stars in the UK. Approximately 35 delegates attended, most from within the UK, with a few from overseas, including Spain and India, all experts on neutron star physics.

The meeting was broken up into eight different sessions, each covering a different aspect of neutron stars, ranging from observations to computational modelling. Plenty of time was allowed for questions, allowing for lots of interactions between participants. A conference dinner was held on the 11th, in The Coriander Lounge in �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� city centre.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) consisted of a mix of people from Maths and Physics, indicating the inter-disciplinary nature of the event: Arianna Albayati, Yashaswi Gangwar, Dr Fabian Gittins, Professor Ian Jones, Andrés Gúrpide, Shanshan Yin. The LOC gratefully acknowledges support from the Mathematical Sciences FOS team.

MATHS=E+D+I art competition_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

We asked entrants to express in art the concept that Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity are at the core of mathematics. The winning entries will be displayed in Building 56; the Mathematical Sciences Student Centre, for the interest and enjoyment of our students, staff and visitors.

A massive thank you to our judging panel: Libby Barton (EDI specialist), Joshie Christian (UG President of Mathematical Sciences), Rebecca Hoyle (Associate Vice-President Interdisciplinary Research) and Larry Lynch (Head of School, Winchester School of Art).

The winning entries were:

First place

"Your Divisors, My Sum: Amicable Numbers" by Yuan Chen

Your Divisors, My Sum: Amicable Numbers by Yuan Chen

Yuan Chen: "(220, 284), the smallest pair of amicable numbers, symbolises how individuals from different genders, races, classes, cultures, and eras can connect deeply in the world of mathematics. This artwork underscores that in mathematics, much like these numbers, we unite and magically interconnect across time, embodying true inclusivity and equality."

Second place

"Fractal handprint" by Nicola Symonds

Fractal handprint by Nicola Symonds

Nicola Symonds: "Fractal patterns, created through iterative mathematical formulas, showcase infinite complexity. This mirrors human interaction. Using handprints in various colours represents equality, emphasising equal rights and opportunities for all, regardless of skin colour, gender, or any other characteristic, everyone is equal, mathematics is open to all."

Third place

"Maths is the sum of all people" by Elizabeth Gill

Maths is the sum of all people by Elizabeth Gill

Elizabeth Gill: "I created a digital poster with symbols to represent the maths department and then link in the key words of inclusion, diversity and equality. I hope it's fun and visually catchy so it causes you to look more closely at each key word."

Highly commended

"Alan Turing" by Mathison Knight

Alan Turing by Mathison Knight

Mathison Knight: "Turing's story is a key reminder that the way we do mathematics is impacted by our experiences outside of this, and that this is beneficial to the development of maths. Having a diverse group of mathematicians enhances how it is studied and we should strive to make everyone feel included."

Congratulations to Yuan, Nicola, Elizabeth and Mathison for their excellent work!

Mathematics Challenge award ceremony_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Dr Sunny Yu, Dr Arman Darbinyan, and Dr Itamar Yaakov organised this annual competition aimed at school children in year 10 and below. Students participating in the Challenge solve word-based maths problems with points awarded for demonstrating reasoning skills.

This year, entries came from over 50 different schools from the south of England and beyond, with over 600 students sending in their answers. The participating winners, their parents and a few teachers, some of whom came from as far away as Greece, enjoyed a guided tour of the campus, an evening of mathematical recreation, and a buffet dinner. The event culminated with the presentation of certificates and prizes, and a talk by Professor Jim Anderson entitled “My Favourite Unsolved Mathematical Questions”.

The Interplay of Geometric Group Theory and K-Theory workshop_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

“The Interplay of Geometric Group Theory and K-Theory” was organised by Dr Daniel Kasprowski, Professor Ian Leary and Wolfgang Lück with invited talks by:

Arthur Bartels (Münster)

Christian Bönicke (Newcastle)

Martin Bridson (Oxford)

Ulrich Bunke (Regensburg)

Emanuele Dotto (Warwick)

Ian Hambleton (McMaster)

Renee Hoekzema (VU Amsterdam)

Peter Kropholler (�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��)

Mona Merling (UPenn)

Nansen Petrosyan (�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��)

Julia Semikina (Lille)

Christoph Winges (Regensburg)

Nick Wright (�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��)

Inna Zakharevich (Cornell)

As well as 11 contributed talks by other participants. The organisers are grateful to the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research, the London Mathematical Society, the K-theory Foundation and the Foundation Compositio Mathematica for generous financial support.

CORMSIS Student Runner Up for May Hicks Award_�췢��_�췢��APP-��|��

Her MSc dissertation project was entitled "Development and implementation of a calendar scheduling algorithm" and was jointly supervised by academic supervisor Antonio Martínez-Sykora and industrial supervisors Matt Windeler and Jay Flynn from The Ford Motor Company.

In her solution she used a greedy penalty-based heuristic, efficiently balancing speed, ease of use, and interpretability. Randomisation was added to increase its effectiveness. The resulting method is affordable and allows for user-friendly visualisation.

The outcome of her work establishes the potential advantages of automated scheduling tools over manual approaches. Her solution is an elegant way for businesses and organisations to optimise their meeting scheduling, whilst working with diverse preferences and operational constraints. It is set to help streamline scheduling, increase productivity, improve end user satisfaction, and enable numerous ventures to achieve their business goals.

Saumya has now made it into the top 3 students nominated for the prestigious May Hicks Award, given each year by the OR Society for the best post-graduate project, and received a prize of £250.

The annual award is funded from a generous bequest by the estate of Mrs May Hicks, wife of Donald Hicks OBE, who was a major contributor to operational research and the first treasurer of The OR Society. Projects entered are Operational Research projects carried out for a client organisation, rather than within a university, and the project has to be nominated by the sponsoring company.

Christine Currie, Professor of OR in the School of Mathematics, said: "Saumya’s project is an excellent example of how Operational Research and Data Analytics can help to solve important practical problems. This is the latest work in a long-standing, successful relationship with Ford that stretches back more than 20 years.”

Dr Jay Flynn, Machine Learning Engineer at Ford, commented:

“Having had the privilege of supervising Saumya during her master's project at Ford Motor Company, I can attest to both her technical excellence and project management skills that made her a standout candidate for this award.

“The calendar scheduling problem Saumya tackled was highly complex. It demanded a thorough understanding of end-user needs, which were difficult to define mathematically. Saumya's ability to collaborate closely with the end-customer to define and prioritise these constraints, while making necessary assumptions, demonstrates her excellent interpersonal and design thinking skills.

“Moreover, Saumya presented this complex project in a clear and concise thesis, exceeding all project milestones well ahead of schedule. The quality of her work was recognised by both Ford and �췢��_�췢��APP-��|�� University for its publication potential, and we are actively pursuing publication in a high-impact journal. In my experience working with numerous students, I can confidently say that Saumya stands out as the top MSc student I have encountered.”

Following her graduation, Saumya is now working as a Data Analyst for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in New Delhi, India. We wish her all the best for her future career."

Maths news_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

HandsOn Thailand_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

PhD & PGT Fair - January 2022_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

DRAGON ready to fight coronavirus_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

Statistics and Operational Research climbs to 37th in the world _�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

January 2020 Research highlights_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

Worshipful Company of Actuaries Lecture by John Taylor_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

Talented Mathematics postgraduates win recognition at CORMSIS Prize-giving event_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

Students take their first steps towards successful careers in analytics_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

Operational Research at the University of �췢��������_�췢����APP-����|���� – Careers and Employability_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

UK’s top young codebreakers revealed_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����

�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|���� set to support development of next-gen gravitational wave detectors_�췢��������_�췢����APP-����|����