St Hilda's College
The inaugural Mathematics Seminar brought together over 50 attendees, including undergraduate and graduate students, tutors in Mathematics and joint schools, and students from related disciplines such as Computer Science.
The seminar opened with a lecture by Prof. Andrea Mondino (Fellow in Pure Mathematics) on the connections between geometry, optimal transport and general relativity. His talk (slide pictured) introduced the core mathematical ideas underpinning these topics, while also highlighting recent advances made by Prof. Mondino and his research collaborators.
Following Prof. Mondino’s lecture, two fourth-year students presented their undergraduate research projects. Will Zhou spoke about his fourth-year dissertation on modelling the dynamics of bird flight patterns, illustrating how mathematical techniques can shed light on complex collective behaviour. Jonathon Wanley then discussed research from his third-year dissertation (supervised by Dr Robin Thompson, Fellow in Applied Mathematics) into the implications of different modelling assumptions when modelling infectious disease outbreaks and associated interventions. His talk explored the mathematical challenges involved in choosing appropriate models to inform public health responses.
Together, the presentations showcased the breadth of mathematical research undertaken by St Hilda’s students and tutors, spanning theory and real-world applications. The seminar concluded with a formal dinner in the Dining Hall, providing an opportunity for continued discussion. It is hoped that the St Hilda’s Mathematics Seminar and accompanying dinner will become a regular fixture in the College calendar.