Thu, 22 Jan 2026

12:00 - 13:00
L3

Modelling Across Scales and Disciplines: From Fertilization and Embryogenesis to Epidemics

Katerina Kaouri
(Cardiff)

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Further Information

 

Katerina is a Reader in Applied Mathematics and the Director for Impact and Engagement at the Cardiff University School of Mathematics. She holds a DPhil from OCIAM, on sonic boom modelling, funded by the AIRBUS and the EU. Katerina has more recently been working on a range of interdisciplinary challenges mainly stemming from biology and medicine, in collaboration with companies, government and society. She is also the founder and coordinator of the European Study Groups with Industry (modelling workshops) in Cyprus (ESGI125, ESGI146). She has also co-founded the non-profit SciCo Cyprus and the Mediterranean Science Festival and she is a TEDx Speaker and a TED-Ed educator. Furthermore, she has been part of large-scale public engagement projects such as the SciShops.eu project where 18 organisations in 12 EU countries tackled pressing societal challenges through co-creative approaches. During the pandemic she led a modelling team that informed policy decisions of the Welsh Government, in collaboration with Prof. Ian Griffiths (OCIAM); she continues working on epidemic preparedness in collaboration with architects and policymakers. She represents the UK in the Councils of the European Consortium of Mathematics in Industry (ECMI) and of EU-Maths-In and she is a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Newton Gateway. She is the recipient of the 2025 IMA Hedy Lamarr Prize for Knowledge Exchange in Mathematics and Its Applications.

 

Abstract

I will present an overview of a range of interdisciplinary modelling challenges that I have been working on in collaboration with experimentalists and external partners. I will begin with mathematical modelling of calcium signalling in In-Vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryogenesis, illustrating how multiscale approaches can link molecular dynamics to cellular and developmental outcomes. I will then discuss our ongoing work on modelling viral transmission in indoor environments, carried out in collaboration with architects and policymakers, with the aim of informing evidence-based policy decisions for future epidemics.

 

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Wed, 26 Nov 2025
13:00
Quillen Room N3.12

From 3D Chern-Simons Theory to Knot Invariants

Yuhan Gai
Abstract

Witten’s seminal 1988 work revealed the connection between 3-dimensional Chern-Simons theory and knot invariants. In this talk, I will provide a physically motivated overview and explain how skein relations manifest from a path-integral/partition-function perspective on 3-manifolds with Wilson lines inserted. There will also be some fun topological brain-twisters for the audience. If time permits, I will comment on recent developments involving factorization homology and its relation to correlators for logarithmic CFTs.

Junior Strings is a seminar series where DPhil students present topics of common interest that do not necessarily overlap with their own research area. This is primarily aimed at PhD students and post-docs but everyone is welcome.

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