Symmetry underpins all physics research. We look for fundamental and beautiful patterns to describe and explain the laws of nature. One way of explaining symmetry is to ask: "what is the full set of operations I can do to my real-world experiment or abstract theory written on paper that doesn't change any physical measurements or predictions?'' There are simple symmetries we are perhaps already familiar with. For example, lab-based physics experiments usually don't care if you wait an hour to do the experiment or if you rotate your apparatus by 90 degrees.

We are delighted to announce our first Maryam Mirzakhani Scholar. Marta Bucca (pictured) will join Oxford Mathematics in October as a postgraduate student in the Mathematical Physics Group, to carry out research on String Theory under the supervision of Professor Mark Mezei.