13 Mar 2017
Maximising impact through mathematics … and having fun too!
WHEN
15 Mar 2017
6:00 PM
WHERE
University High School, Parkville
At the next Australia and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science seminar, Professor Kate Smith-Miles from Monash University will speak Maximising impact through mathematics … and having fun too!
Mathematics holds the key to unlock many of the greatest challenges of our time. From improving food security, to reducing traffic congestion, and discovering hidden connections in gene networks, mathematical techniques are enabling solutions that will lead advances in the 21st century. In this talk, we will explore the breadth of mathematics that gives rise to these applications. We’ll discuss why mathematicians often consider their work to be as much of an art as a science, admired for its beauty and elegance as well as its important applications. Finally, we will look in detail at how mathematics can be used to accurately guess how old someone is based on a photo of their face. No more lying about your age!
Prof. Smith-Miles holds a B.Sc(Hons) in mathematics and a PhD in electrical engineering from Melbourne University. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, a Fellow of the Austalian Mathematical Society, and received the society’s Medal in 2010. She is interested in applied mathematics, especially optimisation, pattern recognition, and modelling of complex systems.
On Wednesday, 19 April, Jodie McVernon will present on Modelling of infectious disease and interventions. Further information is available here.