2025-26: Opening Symposium
Tuesday 30th September 2025
- Wednesday 1st October 2025
All new PhD students in the mathematical sciences at SMSTC member institutions are encouraged to attend. There will be opportunities 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 2025-26 will be held at the AK Bell Library, Perth. Location & directions are available here: AK Bell Library
COSTS
If you are a new mathematical sciences PhD student in on of our member departments, your event fees will be covered by your department. See here for a list of our member departments: https://smstc.ac.uk/about-us . You are required to make your own travel arrangements, which you need to book yourself and then arrange reimbursement with your department, according to their relevant procedures.
(If financial constraints are preventing you from attending, please contact the SMSTC Director, ana.lecuona@glasgow.ac.uk and we can discuss how to help.)
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 Tuesday 30th September 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
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Tuesday 30th September
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10.00 - 11.00 |
Registration and coffee |
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11.00 - 11.30 |
Welcome (Ana Lecuona) |
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11.30 - 12.00 |
The PhD process and How to get through it (Vanessa McNealis) |
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12.05 – 12.25 |
Supplementary module: D-modules (Gwyn Bellamy) |
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12.30 – 13.15 |
Lunch (provided) |
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13.15 – 13.35 |
Supplementary module: Gravity (Sayantani Bhattacharyya) |
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13:40 – 13.50 |
Student rep. experience (Theresa Ortscheidt) |
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13.55 – 14.15 |
Supplementary module: The Arithmetic of Elliptic Curves (Elena Denisova) |
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14.20 – 14.40 |
Supplementary module: Travelling Waves in Parabolic PDEs (Michael Grinfeld) |
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14.40 – 15.00 |
Coffee |
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15.00 – 15.30 |
Theme Talk: Probability and Statistics (Victor Elvira) |
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15:30 – 16:15 |
Breakout activity |
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16.20 – 16.50 |
Theme Talk: Applications of Mathematics (Irene Kyza) |
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19.30 onwards |
Dinner at Willows |
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Wednesday 1st October
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09.15 – 09.20 |
Welcome back and Q&A |
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09.25 – 09.35 |
Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Tara Brendle) |
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09.35 - 10.05 |
Theme Talk: Analysis (Martin Dindos) |
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10.05 - 10.15 |
Royal Statistical Society (Nevil Hopley) |
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10.15 - 10.30 |
Walk to Curling |
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10.30 - 12.00 |
Curling/ alternative activity |
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12.15 - 13.00 |
Lunch (provided) |
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13.00 – 13.20 |
Supplementary modules: Homotopy Theory and Stable Homotopy Theory (Irakli Patchkoria) |
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13.20 – 13.40 |
Theme Talk: Structure and Symmetry (Alessandro Sisto) |
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13.40 – 14.00 |
Supplementary module: Resurgence (Murad Alim) |
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14.00 - 14.15 |
Break |
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14.15 – 14.25 |
Supplementary module: Low-dimensional Topology (Alessandro Sisto) |
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14.25 - 14.40 |
University College Union (Maia Woolf) |
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14.40 - 15.00 |
Supplementary module: Geometric Group Theory (Alessandro Sisto) |
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15.00 - 15.30 |
Wrap up, Coffee & Connections |
Day two includes a social event, 'Try Curling' at the Dewars Leisure Centre. 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. You will need to bring a pair of clean trainers / rubber-soled shoes with you for the activity.
MODULE INFORMATION
Theme talks as part of the Symposium will present information on all the SMSTC Core modules and the programme also includes presentations by leaders of many of this year's Supplementary modules. You can access preparatory information about the 2025-26 modules listing via:
- Our modules page
- Our prospectus
Location
Sign-Up is required to confirm your attendance and inform us of any requirements. There are limited places so early sign-up is encouraged!