2024-25: Opening Symposium


Wednesday 2nd October 2024 - Thursday 3rd October 2024

All new PhD students in the mathematical sciences at SMSTC member institutions are encouraged to attend. There will be oportunities to learn about SMSTC modules on offer this year, hear presentations about aspects of life as a PhD student, and meet fellow PhD students from across Scotland.

Attendance is in person so that you can make the most of the social aspects of the programme!

The SMSTC Opening Symposium for 2024-25 will be held at the AK Bell Library, Perth. Location & directions are available here: AK Bell Library

COSTS

There will be a charge for students attending this event. You should confirm with your department that they will cover the cost before signing-up. You should also confirm with your department that they will reimburse your travel costs, which you book yourself. Day one commences at 10.00am and day two is expected to conclude at c.3.30pm

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation will be reserved for the night of Wednesday 2nd October only, for any participant that requires it. You will be asked if you require accommodation when you complete the sign-up form. Details of the accommodation provided will be emailed to you after the sign-up deadline has passed.

PROGRAMME

Wednesday 2nd October
10.00 - 11.00 Registration and coffee
11.00 - 11.40 Welcome (Fraser Daly, SMSTC Director)
11.40 - 12.25 The PhD Process and How to Get Through It (Ana Lecuona, SMSTC Deputy Director)
12.25 - 12.35 Royal Statistical Society (Nevil Hopley)
12.35 - 13.30 Lunch (provided)
13.30 - 14.15 Theme talk: Probability and Statistics (Sergey Foss)
14.15 - 14.35 Supplementary module: Conformal Field Theory and Vertex Operator Algebras (Anatoly Konechny, module leader)
14.35 - 14.45 University and College Union (Malthe Sporring)
14.45 - 15.15 Coffee
15.15 - 15.35 Supplementary module: Quantum Computing (Des Johnston, module leader)
15.35 - 16.05 Break
16.05 - 16.15 Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Tara Brendle)
16.15 - 17.00 Theme talk: Structure and Symmetry (Alessandro Sisto, Theme Head) 
19.30 onwards Dinner at Willows 
   
Thursday 3rd October
09.30 - 09.40 Welcome back and Q&A (Fraser Daly and Gabriel Corrigan)
09.40 - 09.45 Supplementary module: Gradient Flows (John Ball, module leader)
09.45 - 10.30 Theme talk: Analysis (Gabriel Barrenechea, Theme Head)
10.30 - 11.00 Coffee
11.00 - 12.30 Curling
12.30 - 13.15 Lunch (provided)
13.15 - 13.35 Supplementary module: Gravity (Sayantani Bhattacharyya, module leader)
13.35 - 14.20 Theme talk: Applications of Mathematics (Richard Scott, Theme Head)
14.20 - 14.40 Supplementary module: Hopf Algebras (Andy Baker, module leader)
14.40 - 14.50 Wrap up (Fraser Daly)
14.50 onwards Tea and departure

Day two includes a social event, 'Try Curling' at the Dewars Leisure Centre at 11am. This is a fun, relaxed coaching session on the sport of Curling, where you will learn how to deliver a curling stone, how to sweep, etiquette & rules and have the chance to try out a game of curling as part of a small team.

When you complete the sign-up form you will be asked if you wish to take part.

MODULE INFORMATION

Theme talks as part of the Symposium will present information on all the SMSTC core modules. The programme also includes presentations by leaders of some of this year's supplementary modules, but not all supplementary module leaders are available to give you a taster of their module during the event. For details of other supplementary modules on offer in 2024-25, please see

 

Location

Sign-Up is required to confirm your attendance and inform us of any requirements. The form is open until 12.00 midday on Tuesday 24th September 2024. There are limited places so early sign-up is encouraged!