Random walks to colonoscopies: modelling how memory of the past affects future behaviour, a talk by Rosemary Harris (Queen Mary University of London)
Abstract
As humans, how does memory of our past experiences affect our future choices? Are there psychological biases which might cause us to behave less rationally than we think? Can we make mathematical predictions about such situations? And what does this all this have to do with theoretical physics research into “non-Markovian statistical mechanics”? In this talk, I will attempt to address some of these questions starting from the statistical mechanics of random walkers and progressing (via discussion of colonoscopies!) to simple decision-making models of behavioural economics.
About the Speaker
Dr Rosemary Harris is a Reader in Applied Mathematics, within the School of Mathematical Sciences, QMUL. Her research interests are focused on stochastic non-equilibrium processes including: interacting particle systems, large deviations, fluctuation relations , and applications, e.g. traffic, econophysics, biological modelling.
No charge is made to attend meetings; non-IMA members are welcome.
