GSA SPARK 2025 is back, starting from November 24th until the December 14th, 2025. This coding challenge is especially suited for first-year undergraduates from all STEM disciplines. Take part in 21 days of exciting chellenges, testing your maths and coding to the test. There are £5,000 worth of of daily prizes up for grabs and a £1000 grand prize for the overall winner. Register at gsa-spark.com.
We’re pleased to share the launch of the MSc in AI for Business
This year’s Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics Open Day will take place online on Tuesday 2nd December 2025 from 1:30-4:00pm.
Join us online to meet supervisors as well as some of our postdocs, and hear brief talks on their research. There will also be drop-in sessions with supervisors and current students, with ample opportunity for you to ask questions.
The PhD students from the probability group are organising an event for master’s students interested in probability (and related areas) on 10th November at 5pm. The idea is that we all meet on the ground floor of the Statistics department and split into groups so that each table has 1-2 PhD students and a few master’s students.
Thinking about postgraduate study? Join the Department of Statistics on the 19th November for its annual Postgraduate Open Day, with sessions available in person and online. Hear from course directors about the DPhil, MSc in Statistical Science, and the StatML Centre for Doctoral Training, and meet current students and staff.
Tue, 25 Nov 2025
16:30 -
17:30
L3
An Adjoint Method for Optimization of the Boltzmann Equation
Prof. Russel Caflisch
Abstract
We present an adjoint method for optimization of the spatially inhomogeneous Boltzmann equation for rarefied gas dynamics. The adjoint method is derived using a "discretize then optimize" approach. Discretization (in time and velocity) is via the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, and adjoint equations are derived from an augmented Lagrangian. The boundary conditions that are included in this analysis include spectral reflection, thermal reflection, and inflow boundary conditions. For thermal reflection, a "score function" is included as a statistical regularization. This is joint work with Yunan Yang (Cornell).
Her-AI is a new after-school outreach initiative based in South London, designed to inspire and equip girls in grades 9-11 from diverse backgrounds to explore pathways into artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science. Sponsored by the University of Oxford and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the programme combines hands-on workshops, mentorship from Oxford students and researchers, and immersive experience days in Oxford.
Whether you're new to Oxford or a seasoned cyclist, the University's Vision Zero cycle training sessions are here to help you ride safer this autumn.