Sydney Mathematical Research Institute

NSW Chief Scientist's Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series
2019-12-03 08:00 (Australia/Sydney)
SMRI Director, Geordie Williamson gave a talk in this ongoing seminar series which showcases excellence in research and development which is generating economic, environmental, social and technological benefits for New South Wales. The six-part series featured some of the State’s best and brightest, and highlighted its tremendous research strength across a diverse range of disciplines.
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More on the NSW Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series

Sydney Ideas: Can calculus cure cancer?
2019-11-12 18:00
Cancer is a complex disease which continues to cause the premature deaths of many people. Research by clinicians and experimental biologists has dramatically improved outcomes for many patients, but further improvements are needed.
in this talk, Professor Helen Byrne showed how mathematical modelling is being used to understand how tumours grow and to predict how they will respond to treatments. Not only this, but it is also helping to accelerate the development of new treatments such as immunotherapy and virotherapy.
Prof Helen Byrne is a Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Oxford. She uses mathematical models to understand problems in bio-medicine, especially in the treatment of cancer. She is also a member of the advisory board of the Sydney Mathematical Research Institute.

Dr Simon Marais Memorial Lecture
2019-11-06 06:00
‘An intriguing journey in maths’ with Dr June HuhDr June Huh is a Clay Research Fellow and a member at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, USA. He applies tropical geometry and singularity theory to problems in combinatorics and other areas. He is best known in the field of mathematics for his proof of the Rota conjecture, which led him and fellow collaborating mathematicians to receive the 2019 New Horizons in Mathematics Prize as part of the Breakthrough Prize series.

Dr Huh received his Bachelor of Science from Seoul National University in 2007 and PhD in Mathematics from the University of Michigan in 2014. He was a speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 2018.

Established in 2016, this the annual Simon Marais memorial lectureship commemorates Dr Simon Marais’ interest and commitment to mathematics, theoretical physics and education. The University of Sydney was entrusted to continue his passion by his family to inspire our students to pursue mathematics and theoretical physics, strengthen the research community in these fields and engage the general public in these fields of work. The inaugural memorial lecture was held in 2017.

Click here to watch the lecture

ABC Science Live on Stage – Ockham’s Razor
2019-08-15 18:00
An engaging event in which brilliant scientists told stories of their cutting-edge work. Real science told by real scientists with no notes, no slides – just great stories.
It’s all part of Ockham’s Razor – the ABC podcast for anyone with a compelling story of science. This was a jam-packed evening of short talks to intrigue, excite and inspire.
Professor Geordie Williamson (Professor of Mathematics, University of Sydney) asked, “where do ideas come from?”
Dr Kate Selway (Earth Scientist, Macquarie University) sought to unlock the secrets of the Earth’s composition from its surface.
Sheila Pham (Writer, Radiomaker, PhD Candidate, Macquarie University) examined whether we can use complexity science to improve the experience of pregnancy.
Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly (Clinician-Researcher, Clinical Psychologist, University of New South Wales) argued we need to bridge the divide between research and clinical practice.
Steve Cannane (Investigative Journalist, ABC) looked at the story of Scientology and science.

You can listen to Ockham’s Razor now via ABC Radio National, iTunes or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Or, you can read the article.

This Sounds like Science: Why Music is Maths
2019-08-07 12:30
Why do guitars, flutes and voices sound different? How do we hear the different notes in a piece of music? Why does the sound of a whistle feel simpler than that of a violin? Most importantly, what does all of this have to do with the cover of Pink Floyd’s “The dark side of the moon”?

SMRI Director, Professor Geordie Williamson, gave an engaging public talk at the City Recital Hall and took the audience on a journey into the shape of sound and sound waves to explore the fascinating world of timbre, overtones, modes and frequencies. These ideas are amongst the most fundamental tools of modern mathematics and physics.

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This Sounds Like Science is supported by and co-curated with Inspiring Australia, the national strategy for community engagement with the sciences.
