Dissertations and projects: Making the most of your supervision meetings
Abstract
Exploring fascinating mathematics more independently by doing a Part B project or dissertation can be one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of undergraduate study. Supervision meetings are one of the main tools for making the most of this experience.
In this Fridays@2 session, a panel of staff and students with experience in Part B projects and dissertations will share practical tips on how to prepare, communicate effectively, and tackle common challenges. Whether you’re currently working on a project, planning one, or just curious, join us for insights and an interactive Q&A.
16:00
$p$-Adic Variation in the Theory of Automorphic Forms
Abstract
This will be an expository lecture intended for a general mathematical audience to illustrate, through examples, the theme of $p$-adic variation in the classical theory of modular forms. Classically, modular forms are complex analytic objects, but because their Fourier coefficients are typically integral, it is possible to also do elementary arithmetic with them. Early examples arose already in the work of Ramanujan. Today one knows that modular forms encode deep arithmetic information about elliptic curves and Galois representations. Our main goal will be to illustrate these ideas through simple concrete examples.
16:00
Fridays@4 – Trading Options: Predicting the Future in More Ways Than One
Abstract
In the fast-paced world of trading, where exabytes of data and advanced mathematical models offer powerful insights, how do you harness these to anticipate market shifts and evolving prices? Numbers alone only tell part of the story. Beneath the surface lies the unpredictable force of human behaviour – the delicate balance of buyers and sellers shaping the market’s course.
In this talk, we’ll uncover how these forces intertwine, revealing insights that not only harness data but challenge conventional thinking about the future of trading.
Speaker: Chris Horrobin (Head of European and US people development for Optiver)

Speaker bio
Chris Horrobin is Head of European and US people development for Optiver. Chris started his career trading US and German bond options, adding currency and European index options into the mix before moving to focus primarily on index options. Chris spent his first three years in Amsterdam before transferring to Sydney.
During these years, Chris traded some of the biggest events of his career including Brexit and Trump (first time around) and before moving back to Europe led the positional team in his last year. Chris then moved out of trading and into our training team running our trading education space for four years, owning both the design and execution of our renowned internship and grad programs.
The Education Team at Optiver is central to the Optiver culture and focus on growth – both of employees and the company. Chris has now extended his remit to cover the professional development of hires throughout the business.
17:00
The Brooke Benjamin Lecture in Fluid Dynamics: The Elusive Singularity
Abstract
The Seventeenth Brooke Benjamin Lecture 2024
The Elusive Singularity
I will describe the open problems of singularity formation in incompressible fluids. I will discuss a list of related models, some results, and some more open problems.
Date: Monday, 11 November 2024
Time: 5pm GMT
Location: Lecture Theatre 1, Mathematical Institute
Speaker: Professor Peter Constantin
17:00
The Seventeenth Brooke Benjamin Lecture 2024: The Elusive Singularity
Abstract
The Elusive Singularity
I will describe the open problems of singularity formation in incompressible fluids. I will discuss a list of related models, some results, and some more open problems.
Date: Monday, 11 November 2024
Time: 5pm GMT
Location: Lecture Theatre 1, Mathematical Institute
Speaker: Professor Peter Constantin
Peter Constantin is the John von Neumann Professor of Mathematics and Applied and Computational Mathematics at Princeton University. Peter Constantin received his B.A and M.A. summa cum laude from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics. He obtained his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the direction of Shmuel Agmon.
Constantin’s work is focused on the analysis of PDE and nonlocal models arising in statistical and nonlinear physics. Constantin worked on scattering for Schr¨odinger operators, on finite dimensional aspects of the dynamics of Navier-Stokes equations, on blow up for models of Euler equations. He introduced active scalars, and, with Jean-Claude Saut, local smoothing for general dispersive PDE. Constantin worked on singularity formation in fluid interfaces, on turbulence shell models, on upper bounds for turbulent transport, on the inviscid limit, on stochastic representation of Navier-Stokes equations, on the Onsager conjecture. He worked on critical nonlocal dissipative equations, on complex fluids, and on ionic diffusion in fluids.
Constantin has advised thirteen graduate students in mathematics, and served in the committee of seven graduate students in physics. He mentored twenty-five postdoctoral associates.
Constantin served as Chair of the Mathematics Department of the University of Chicago and as the Director of the Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics at Princeton University.
Constantin is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, a SIAM Fellow, and Inaugural Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the National Academy of Sciences
Combating Imposter Syndrome
Abstract
How can it be that so many clever, competent and capable people can feel that they are just one step away from being exposed as a complete fraud? Despite evidence that they are performing well they can still have that lurking fear that at any moment someone is going to tap them on the shoulder and say "We need to have a chat". If you've ever felt like this, or you feel like this right now, then this Friday@2 session might be of interest to you. We'll explore what "Imposter Feelings" are, why we get them and steps you can start to take to help yourself and others. This event is likely to be of interest to undergraduates and MSc students at all stages.
Mathematics: past, present, future - "The theory of knots"
Managing your Dissertation
Abstract
This session is particularly aimed at fourth-year and OMMS students who are completing a dissertation this year. For many of you this will be the first time you have written such an extended piece on mathematics. The talk will include advice on planning a timetable, managing the workload, presenting mathematics, structuring the dissertation and creating a narrative, and avoiding plagiarism.
What's it like to do a DPhil/research?
Abstract
This week's Fridays@2 will be a panel discussion focusing on what it is like to pursue a research degree. The panel will share their thoughts and experiences in a question-and-answer session, discussing some of the practicalities of being a postgraduate student, and where a research degree might lead afterwards.