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We are very excited to invite you to the annual Imperial College London SIAM Student Conference! You can look forward to a full day of student talks as well as exciting keynote speakers in many different fields of mathematics (PROGRAMME HERE!!!).

We have great keynote talks:

Martins Bruveris (Brunel University London):

Riemannian Metrics on Shape Spaces – Theory and Applications

The word ‘shape’ denotes the external form, contour or outline of something. Shape is a basic physical property of objects and plays an important role in applications such as evolutionary biology or automated image understanding. Mathematically one can define a shape to be an embedded submanifold in an ambient space. The shape space is the collection of all shapes. To perform statistical inferences it is necessary to equip the shape space with additional structure, for example a distance function or a Riemannian metric. In this talk I will describe a class of Riemannian metrics that are used in shape analysis. By doing so we will see how functional analysis and differential geometry interact in infinite dimensions and that the infinite-dimensional landscape can be full of traps for the careless traveller

David Ham (Imperial College London):

Firedrake: using symbolic computation to overcome the productivity crisis in numerical computing

Simulation based on numerically solving PDEs is a core challenge in computational mathematics. This is the only field in which entire top 50 supercomputers are procured for a single class of problem. However, the productivity of simulation software creation is spectacularly poor, with the combination of application, equations, numerics, and various levels of performance engineering creating a code so complex that advances become prohibitive. PhD students frequently spend the majority of their research time re-implementing known techniques in huge legacy programmes just to reach the starting point for their research contribution. The Firedrake project tackles this productivity crisis by taking a radically different approach to simulation software creation. Scientists and engineers create simulations by writing the finite element form of the PDE in high level mathematical code, similar to Mathematica or Maple. Firedrake then uses specialised compilers to apply a sequence of mathematical transformations to this code, each one applying some part of the discretisation and performance optimisation pipeline. The result is a system which is both highly productive and which facilitates the application of optimisations which would be intractable to apply by hand. In this talk I will lay out how the Firedrake system works, and show some of its mathematical capabilities.

Georg Ostrovski (Google Deepmind):

Curiosity-Based Exploration in Deep Reinforcement Learning 

In recent years, the use of deep neural networks in Reinforcement Learning has allowed significant empirical progress, enabling generic learning algorithms with little domain-specific prior knowledge to solve a wide variety of previously challenging tasks. Examples are reinforcement learning agents that learn to play video games exceeding human-level performance, or beat the world’s strongest players at board games such as Go or Chess. Despite these practical successes, the problem of effective exploration in high-dimensional domains, recognized as one of the key ingredients for more competent and generally applicable AI, remains a great challenge and is an active area of empirical research. In this talk I will introduce basic ideas from Deep Learning and its use in Reinforcement Learning and show some of their applications. I will then zoom in on the exploration problem, and present some of the recent algorithmic approaches to create ‘curious’ reinforcement learning agents.

We will also have prizes for the best speaker and the best poster.

If your abstract for a talk is accepted we will reimburse travel expenses up to £50, with expenses for poster presenters covered subject to availability.

Date:
11th of June, 9am – 5pm

Location:
CDT Space,
4th Floor Sherfield Building,
South Kensington Campus,
Imperial College London,
SW7 2AZ

Prizes (Amazon Vouchers):
• Best talk: £70
• Best poster: £50
• Early bird raffle (submit your abstract before 18th May for entry into a prize draw): £30
Free food: morning coffee, pastries, lunch and afternoon snacks!
Programme: TO BE CONFIRMED SHORTLY.
Please register and submit your abstracts & posters here

We look forward to seeing you there!

Best wishes and maths love,
The Imperial College SIAM Student Chapter

This year the ICL-UCL day is going to be held at UCL on Friday 27th of April. If you are interested in joining us, please sign up here: https://goo.gl/aFEGC7!

Here is some basic info for the day.

Location: Room 505, University College, 25 Gordon St, London WC1H 0AY.

Programme:

8.45: Registration

9.00: Opening remarks

9.10: 3 student speakers

10.30: Coffee break

11.00: 2 student speakers and keynote

13.00: Lunch / poster session

14.00: 3 Student speakers

5.30: coffee break

16.00: Keynote

17.00: Prizes &closing

7.30: Conference finished

 

It will be a fantastic day full of all kinds of maths from differential geometry to probability theory and mathematical physics. Prepare for fun to be had, horizons to be broadened and free food to be consumed.

 

The annual Maths Department Christmas party is here!  This year, we are hoping to make it really special for you with lots of little surprises!

Keep your diary free on the Wednesday 29th November! Please fill the following form so we know your dietary requirement!
https://docs.google.com/…/1rrXsHuDSjPd8zFb1qt8-oq…/viewform…

For the induction week next week, we are organising a series of exciting events to welcome the incoming PhD students to join our big family at Imperial. As usual, all PhD students are invited. Please join us at those events, make some new friends and have fun!

 

We are delighted to announce the 3rd Annual Conference of the Imperial SIAM Student Chapter. It will be held at Imperial College London on 19th of June.

This is where it takes place (zoom in to see the building, take the elevator to the 5th floor and you will see us).

Please see below for titles and abstracts of the talks.

09:00 – 09:30	Registration
09:30 – 09:40	Welcome & Opening Remarks
09:40 – 10:30	Prof. Sir B. Hoskins
10:30 – 10:55	Jemima Tabeart
10:55 – 11:20	Francisco de Melo Viríssimo
11:20 – 11:40	Coffee Break
11:40 – 12:30	Prof. R. Grimshaw
12:30 – 12:55	Hemant Khatri
12:55 – 13:00	G-Research Presentation
13:00 – 13:15	Conference Photo
13:15 – 14:30	Lunch – Poster Session & Networking with G-Research
14:30 – 14:55	Cezary Olszowiec
14:55 – 15:45	Prof. A. Iserles
15:45 – 16:10	Marco Gorelli
16:10 – 16:35	Linnéa Gyllingberg
16:35 – 16:55	Coffee Break
16:55 – 17:20	Michael Hartl
17:20 – 18:10	Dr. C. Cotter
18:10 – 18:35	Adam Barker
18:35 – 18:45	Closing Remarks & Prizes
19:15	Conference Dinner

We have great keynote talks:

Dr. Colin Cotter [Imperial College London]
“Compatible finite element methods for numerical weather prediction”

Abstract: Compatible finite element methods are numerical discretisation methods based on sequences of finite element spaces that are compatible with the classical vector calculus identities “div-curl = 0”, “curl-grad = 0”. This compatibility turns out to be important for establishing stability of numerical discretisations. I will introduce these methods, review some results from the field (recently expressed in the finite element exterior calculus), and explain how they allow us to build numerical schemes for geophysical fluid dynamics that have long-time stability and conservation properties.

Prof. Roger Grimshaw [Loughborough University and University College London]
“Nonlinear waves in the ocean: the interplay between extreme events and nonlinear wave equations”

Abstract: I will discuss three examples of large-amplitude waves in the ocean, and how canonical nonlinear wave equations are being used to model them. The three cases are:  rogue waves, modelled by the nonlinear Schrdodinger equation; tsunamis on the continental slope and shelf, modelled by a Korteweg-de Vries equation; internal waves in the coastal ocean, modelled by an extended Korteweg-de Vries equation.

Prof. Sir Brian Hoskins [Imperial College London]
“Weather, climate and mathematics”

Abstract: Mathematics plays a crucial role in understanding and predicting weather and climate. I will give some examples of this that I have been, and am, involved with, and discuss the general prediction problem.

Prof. Arieh Iserles [University of Cambridge]
“How to solve linear ODEs”

Abstract: It is trivial to solve a system of constant-coefficients linear ODEs or a variable-coefficients scalar ODE, but how to solve (whether analytically or numerically) a system of linear ODEs with variable coefficients? This talk will take us on a journey across some unexpected themes in mathematics, e.g. Lie groups and algebras, graph theory, graded free algebras and geometric numerical integration, with a smidgen of highly oscillatory quadrature.

These are the contributed talks:

• Jemima Tabeart, University of Reading
  “Accounting for correlated observation errors in variational data assimilation”
  In numerical weather prediction, data assimilation is used to combine observations of the atmosphere with information from a background field to obtain the most likely current state of the atmosphere. To be able to produce high resolution forecasts, we must use high resolution observations. This requires the correct treatment of observation statistics in data assimilation.
  We investigate convergence of the minimisation of a variational data assimilation system with correlated observation errors. We show that the minimum eigenvalue of the observation error correlation matrix is significant numerically and theoretically for the conditioning of the assimilation system. To reduce computational costs of the assimilation, we alter the eigenvalues of the observation error correlation matrix. Experiments with a 1D-Var system used by the Met Office for satellite retrievals demonstrate that using reconditioned observation error matrices in the assimilation improves convergence.
• Francisco de Melo Viríssimo, University of Bath
  “Multilayered flows in the shallow-water limit: examples, formulation and stability”
  In this talk, we will formulate and discuss the problem of density stratified interfacial flows in the shallow-water limit. This type of flow occurs in nature with the atmosphere and ocean as prime examples. We will focus our attention on the two and three-layer flows, without the so-called Boussinesq approximation which requires small density differences. The governing equations will be derived and its dynamics will be studied from both analytical and numerical points of view, particularly the issue of whether the solutions maintain hyperbolicity (i.e. wave-like behaviour).
• Hemant Khatri, Imperial College London
  “Random to organised motions in oceans”
  Oceanic eddies (or can be called random motions) play a major role in the large-scale ocean circulation. The eddies, which are prominent at length scales of 10-100 km and have a life span of a couple of weeks, can interact with the mean flow and are also capable of modifying it. Eddy effects are not properly resolved in ocean models because of their coarse resolution and many dynamical effects are not well predicted. The strength of eddy effects can be estimated by computing energy transfer across different length scales i.e. spectral energy fluxes. In this talk, I shall discuss some of these fluxes computed using real ocean surface data in different parts of the oceans. Kinetic energy fluxes show a strong transfer to large scales. In addition, fluxes due to eddy-mean, eddy-eddy interaction terms are also evaluated. The results indicate that mean-eddy interactions are quite strong. Finally, the results are interpreted from a point of view of two-dimensional turbulence.
• Cezary Olszowiec, Imperial College London
  “In search of a blender: how to prepare a cake without a mixer”
  We present an approach to the problem of shadowing of the scattering maps for the NHIM in the absence of the transversality condition. We will also show the applications of our results to the ‘decision making’ problems.
• Marco Gorelli, University of Reading
  “Regularity structures and controlled rough paths”
  Regularity structures are a relatively new theory, which build on elements of the theory of rough paths. They allow to make sense of ill-posed SPDEs (such as the KPZ equation) which arise in some physical models. I will give an quick introduction to the theory, and show how it applies to controlled rough paths.
• Linnéa Gyllingberg, Uppsala University
  “Spatial models of the evolution of social behaviour: Can helping and non-helping behaviour coexist?”
  Mathematical models have been widely and successfully applied in understanding the interplay of population structure and the evolution of social behavior. Here we ask whether helping and non-helping behaviour can co-exist in social groups, and importantly, what ecological factors affect this coexistence. We use two types of modelling techniques to examine this question. The first is an individual based model based on the lifecycle of social wasps and other colony founding species which compete for limited resource sites. The second is a mean field approximation derived from the individual based model. Both techniques use simple ecological parameters, such as number of offspring, effect of division of labour and dispersal distance. Using these two techniques, we find that the spatial structure of populations is critically important in allowing helping behaviour to evolve. Our broad approach to investigating helping behaviour highlights the importance of spatial effects in the evolution of social behaviours.
• Michael Hartl, Imperial College London
  “Bifurcations in Stochastic Approximation Dynamics”
  Stochastic Approximations have been studied since the 1950’s as an important tool in various fields of pure and applied mathematics. We take a dynamical systems approach to this topic, based on theory developed by Benaim and coworkers; in particular we are interested in parameter dependent systems. We will present an example where a small change of this parameter critically changes the behavior of the overall dynamics.
• Adam Barker, University of Reading
  “Fractal-Dimensional Properties of Non-Decreasing Lévy Processes”
  We consider the box-counting dimension of sets related to non-decreasing Levy processes (subordinators). It was recently shown in [1] that U(d)N(t,d) converges to t almost surely as d tends to zero, where N(t,d) is the minimal number of boxes of size at most d needed to cover a subordinator’s range up to time t, and U(d) is the subordinator’s renewal function. The main result is a central limit theorem (CLT) for N(t,d), complementing and refining work in [1].
  Box-counting dimension is defined in terms of N(t,d), but for subordinators we prove that it can also be defined using a new process obtained by shortening the original subordinator’s jumps of size greater than d. This new process can be manipulated with remarkable ease in comparison to N(t,d), and allows us to understand the box-counting dimension of a subordinator’s range in terms of its Levy measure, significantly improving upon [1, Corollary 1]. Corresponding CLT and almost sure convergence results for the new process are then given for all subordinators with fractal structure (those with infinite Levy measure).
  Reference
  [1] Savov, M. On the range of subordinators, Elec. Commun. Probab., 2014

 

 

 

There is *no registration fee* and *free lunch will be provided* on the day for all participants. A financial travel support (up to £50) will be available for all shortlisted speakers or anyone presenting a poster. Please note that this is subject to our limited resources and we will be able to help on a first come first served basis. So don’t miss this opportunity and sign up as soon as possible!

We are also very happy to announce that all poster presenters and speakers will enter a competition and have the opportunity to win:

• Best Poster Award

• Best Talk Award

and receive a £100 voucher gift. The format of the contributed talks will be a 20 minutes talk plus 5 minutes for questions.

So don’t wait any further and sign up using the registration form at:

https://goo.gl/forms/nFcW4038qPxjaQmn2

Please note that registration is closing on the 9th of June and we can’t guarantee to accommodate late registrations. If you missed the deadline but you are still interested, please get in touch with the organisers and we will try to find a solution.  

P.S If you’re curious to see some pictures from the previous years, just have a look at the following link:

https://twitter.com/imperialSIAM/status/738782395869081600

We are pleased to announce our first ICL-UCL day on April the 3rd, 2017, held this time at Imperial College London. This is the first of what we hope a long series of events where people across different London universities will have to opportunity to get in touch with other students to talk and share their ideas and research in a friendly environment.

We have two great keynote speakers:

Prof. Grigorios A. Pavliotis (ICL)

Prof. Helen J. Wilson (UCL)

We also are looking for 25 min talks contributed by PhD students(4 from each university). There will be a prize for the best junior talk!

There is no registration fee and lunch will be provided, so don’t wait further and sign up soon to enter the competition.

Here is the link for the registration:

https://goo.gl/forms/QAMyN7gNnOL4mt4d2

To submit an abstract for a talk send us an email at imperialsiam@gmail.com by Sunday 19th March and we will notify of the acceptance shortly after. Please use “Abstract ICL-UCL” as subject of the email.

To register for the conference you have time until Sunday 26th March.

Hi Everyone!

Sign up of for a Free Improvisation Workshop for Mathematicians on 6th December (Huxley 341 at 1-3pm)! The improvisation expert Justine Jones will be leading a workshop on improvisation specifically designed for mathematicians. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Workshop Sign up: https://goo.gl/forms/gNrvLA4atMU2TttC2

Your SIAM chapter 🙂

Hey, SIAM gets social again!

We have organized a movie/pizza night on the 22nd of November. All we need from you is to sign up and vote for your favorite movie using the following form:

https://goo.gl/forms/96oACHenHzCG4O8B3

We will be in room 340 Huxley starting at 6pm. We are going to have snacks and drinks during the movie and pizza at the end. For that reason, please tell us whether you have any dietary requirements as well.

Please, do sign up trough the form since we need to have an idea of the number of the participants.

Your SIAM team!

Hello! The new committee would like to warmly welcome all new and returning maths PhD students here at Imperial!
We hope you will have a great time and an interesting year ahead of you!

The Imperial SIAM Student Chapter will do its share in this by organising (recurring) events which are going to be announced via email, facebook and twitter.
So don’t forget to check it out!