14th March 2007, 3:00pm
From Curiosity to Commerce: Presidential Address, Professor Peter Grindrod (IMA President)
Abstract
Why study mathematics? For each of us it is a personal journey full of challenges, adventures and opportunities. Yet the benefits are both to the individuals and to the economy. There is a push and a pull. We need to balance the risks and benefits for students.
We will look at examples of applicable mathematics in some diverse fields. Recently the government has placed great stress on excellence in science and innovation as an enabler, and indeed part of the infrastructure necessary, for our economic well being within the knowledge economy. Mathematics is clearly a pervasive player in this – acting directly in supporting some of the main drivers, and more generally in creating a culture of imagination and advancement. So, what starts out as curiosity-driven problem solving and many inspiring intellectual challenges for individual students, can be seen a mission critical for all of our futures.
Peter is an internationally known mathematician working in the commercial sector managing the development and application (deployment) of mathematical methods to gain business and marketing insights from very large databases for large customer facing companies. Clients gain the value of growth and returns derived from the business insights. He is also the author of a graduate textbook on pattern formation within medical, biological and chemical systems. He was awarded a CBE for services to mathematics research and development in 2005. He is a Visiting Professor in Applied and Industrial Mathematics, at both the Universities of Bath and Oxford.
Venue: University of Ulster Jordanstown
30th May 2007
Audio Ergo Sums, Dr Brian McMaster
Venue: Queen’s University Belfast
19th October 2007
Maths Week, Neil Challis (Sheffield Hallam University)
Venue: Stranmillis University College
Abstract
In studying mathematics, we all meet straight lines, quadratics, sines and cosines. These mathematical ideas can all be given more life by seeing how they can be used to describe and understand things that happen in the physical world. In this talk you will see how these mathematical functions can describe how we move, walking, dancing (badly), falling, and also how we understand musical sounds. What is a mathematical description of the noise a didgeridoo makes? How can we describe mathematically the noise you make when you sing? How are movement and sound related to each other?
21st May 2008, 2:00pm
Mathematical Modelling of Cancer, Dr Francesca O’Rourke (Queen’s University)
Venue: Queen’s University
18th June 2008, 2:00pm
Hooked on Polyhedra, Mr Gerard Crotty (Fermoy)
Abstract
Gerard Crotty is one of Ireland’s renowned experts on Heraldry and among his many interests are polyhedra. The talk will examine regular and semi regular polyhedra, duality, stellation; compound of polyhedra; occurrences of polyhedra in nature – molecular structure (inorganic and biological); discovery of polyhedra and their use in technology.
Venue: NUI Maynooth, Co Kildare
4th February 2009
Effective Mathematics, Effective Mathematicians: Presidential Address, Professor David Abrahams (IMA President and University of Manchester)
Venue: Maynooth
27th May 2009
Sir George Gabriel Stokes: His Phenomenon and Semi-Classical Dynamics of Heavy Particle Collisions, Professor Derrick Crothers
Venue: Queen’s University, Belfast
12th October 2009, 9:30am
Maths Week, Steve Humble (a.k.a. Dr Maths educationalist, maths populariser and columnist)
Venue: Gaelscoil Dhun Dealgan (Dundalk)
12th October 2009, 11:30am
Maths Week, Steve Humble (a.k.a. Dr Maths educationalist, maths populariser and columnist)
Venue: Whitaker Theatre, Dundalk Institute of Technology
13th October 2009, 5:00pm
Turing Machines vs. Human Minds, Shane Dowdall and Conor Dowdall
Abstract
In this talk we will give an overview of Alan Turing: the man, his work and his legacy. We will build and test various Turing Machines and consider their applications, limitations and philosophical implications.
Venue: Dundalk Institute of Technology
