ICMS-LMS Undergraduate Series: Opportunities and directions in modern mathematics online sessions in 2022-23
This online series is held three times annually (November, February, and May) and features distinguished mathematical speakers from around the world. The talks are one hour in length, followed by a leisurely Q&A session about the talk and then a Roundtable discussion about the future directions in mathematics and what opportunities are available to prospective PhD students.
The November event is detailed below; the February and May events will be advertised closer to the time.
1. Wednesday 23 November 2022: 4.00 - 6.00pm (GMT)
Ulrike Tillmann (INI, Cambridge)
Title: Strings and surfaces
Abstract: Surfaces, and manifolds more generally, are fundamental objects in geometry and topology. It is surprising how rich the study of surfaces is and how much we still don't know. In this talk, directed at undergraduates, will look at how ideas physics, in particular from quantum field theory and string theory, have inspired mathematicians to have a fresh look.
View more details here.
The goal of this series is to encourage undergraduates in the mathematical sciences to consider engaging in research degrees in mathematics by:
- providing an overview of possible avenues of research from the point of view of leaders in the field,
- discussing how undergraduates can take the next steps towards applying for a postgraduate degree,
- offering insights to the applications and funding processes,
- hearing from current Masters and/or PhD students,
- answering questions from Undergraduates who are considering applying for a postgraduate degree after they have completed their current studies.
Previous Undergraduate Mathematical Colloquia
Thursday 19 May 2022 - Barry Mazur (Harvard) Hilbert's Hotel and other encounters with infinity
Thursday 24 February 2022 - Simon Donaldson (Imperial and Stony Brook) Invitation to Geometric Analysis
Abstract: “Geometric Analysis”, in the sense of this talk, is a mixture of the analysis of partial differential equations and differential geometry. A geometric question, such as finding the shape of a soap film spanning a wire loop, is asking about the solution of a partial differential equation. Only very rarely can solutions be written down explicitly, but we can still hope to prove that solutions do (or do not) exist and, when they do, say something about them. The setting is frequently a global one, on a “manifold” with interesting topology. This is a large and highly active area in modern mathematical research and there are many connections to other fields such as topology, algebraic geometry and mathematical physics. In the talk we will sketch, with variable detail, a few of the famous results in this area.
These lectures are recorded and, pending approvals the recording, will be available on the ICMS website approx. two weeks after the event.