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The University of Southampton
Mathematical Sciences

Research Group: Maths and Mingle

Currently Active: 
Yes

Maths and Mingle is a monthly seminar series organised by the University of Southampton Mathematical Sciences department. These seminars are open to all postgraduate students and staff and are regularly attended by students from all of the various research groups across the department.

Maths and Mingle meetings

Our aims are based around enhancing and improving the PhD student experience in the department in a plethora of different areas. Some of our specific goals are:

  • Key skills training: Provide efficient, streamlined training in various key skill areas directly relevant to PhD students in the department, ranging from careers/industry training to training in effective utilisation of key university services.
  • Promotion of interdisciplinary discussion: Encouragement of interdisciplinary discussion of ideas between research groups, and promotion of more general discussion of the ongoing research across the department.
  • Broadening knowledge: General broadening of knowledge for students across the department, improving on the progress made towards this goal already by MAGIC, APTS, and NATCOR courses, among others.
  • Communication over silence: Encouragement of open, relaxed, student-lead discussion of issues affecting us as PGR students in an open-forum type atmosphere, promoting communication over silence.
  • Inclusion, not isolation: Prevention of the potential feelings of loneliness and isolation which can affect PhD students, by providing a friendly environment where all students are welcome to socialise and mingle, reinforcing efforts to mitigate against the burden which is often put on students’ mental health by PhD life.
Maths and Mingle meeting

Our monthly meetings consist of:

  • Career skills training programme: A comprehensive programme of training seminars for PGR students in various key skill areas, relevant to both academic and industrial career paths, provided by both internal and external staff with high levels of expertise in those areas.
  • Interdisciplinary research training programme: Talks given by PGR students from our department on their own and ongoing research in their respective research groups.
  • PGR-forum: An open discussion lead by our Mathematical Sciences PGR representative giving students an informal and relaxed platform for discussion of more serious PGR-related issues. The topics range from discussion of problems and issues - which can then be raised at meetings of the Graduate Faculty School Committee - to informal advice and support.

If you would like to know more information about our seminars, please contact our organisers to get in touch.

Research groups:

Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. The research focus of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics is on Mathematical Modelling and Mathematical Physics.

Operational Research. Operational Research (OR) is the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions.

Pure Mathematics. The Pure Mathematics Group has a strong tradition of making important contributions to research in algebra, analysis, geometry, and topology.

Statistics. The Statistics group carries out research of international standing in methodology and substantive applications.

Armando 3
Dr. Armando Martino (giving some useful advice!) mid-way through his talk: "How to Survive a PhD in the Mathematical Sciences".
Matts talk
First year PhD student Matthew Staniforth explaining the applications of algebraic topology to the study of fullerenes.
Break during talks
During a break between talks, the students and staff return their focus to the Maths and Mingle crossword.
Leading discussion
Our PGR representative for the mathematical sciences, Guy Boyde, leading a discussion on ongoing PGR issues.
Megans talk
Second year PhD student Megan Palser just beginning a research talk on her area of expertise: persistent homology.
Michael Casey
First year PhD student Michael Casey explaining - via a rather beautiful figure - a very interesting application of the mathematics which we work on at Southampton; the study of the early stages of development in humans.
Karl talk
Second year PhD student Karl Steinborn-Busse part way through his seminar on his work in Bilevel Optimisation; an area of operational research.
Helen Ogden
Dr. Helen Ogden giving an extremely insightful talk on equality and diversity in mathematical sciences.
Dr. Georgina Lang, an external speaker
Dr. Georgina Lang, an external speaker from mathematics consultancy firm the Smith Institute, describing her work in industry and her transition from PhD life.
Professor Stephen Theriault
Professor Stephen Theriault providing useful information for future academics on grant proposals.
PhD mathematicians
Here we see PhD mathematicians in their natural habitat: doing puzzles!
A gap between talks
In a gap between talks attendees have a change to socialise, and also have a crack at this months puzzles.
Dr. Andreas Schmitt chatting with students
Dr. Andreas Schmitt chatting with students before the start of his talk on academic careers after a PhD
Dr. Andreas Schmitt giving a talk on academic careers
Dr. Andreas Schmitt giving a talk on academic careers after a PhD
First year student Peter Hammond giving a talk in his area of research
First year student Peter Hammond giving a talk in his area of research; binary neutron star mergers
First year students George, Michael, and Peter having a go at the crossword
First year students George, Michael, and Peter having a go at the crossword.
Dr Christine Currie
Dr Christine Currie giving a talk on "How to Survive a PhD"
A third year student, Naomi Andrews, giving a talk on her area of research
A third year student, Naomi Andrews, giving a talk on her area of research - "Forestry Operations in Group Theory"
PhD students working on puzzles between talks
PhD students working on puzzles between talks
Professor Jörg Fliege giving his talk
Professor Jörg Fliege giving his talk titled "It's time for some Game Theory"
Second year PhD student, George Simmons
Second year PhD student, George Simmons, outlining his area of research in Topology
Andy from the finance team giving a Q&A session
Andy from the finance team giving a Q&A session on claiming expenses
Final year student, Laura Murray
Final year student, Laura Murray, giving a talk on her research area - Operational Research
Students held an online event during COVID-19
Students in an event held online over video call during the COVID-19 pandemic
Prof Nils Andersson over video call on authorship
Prof Nils Andersson in the middle of his talk on authorship held online over video call
Luigi Bobbio over online video call presenting his research
Luigi Bobbio over online video call presenting his research on the optimal control of UAVs in a dynamic environment
Lily Clements talk
Fourth year PhD student Lily Clements giving a unique perspective on her research in her talk "When making up values for missing data goes wrong" during our first hybrid event
Dr Nick Wright's talk on academic writing
Dr Nick Wright part way through his talk on academic writing "How to write Mathematics" - one of our first in-person talks in a long time!
Second year PhD student Marcus Hatton giving a talk about his research on neutron star mergers.
Second year PhD student Marcus Hatton giving a talk about his research on neutron star mergers.
Dr. David Turton giving a talk virtually in one of our hybrid events with some very useful advice on applying for postdoctoral positions
Dr. David Turton giving a talk virtually in one of our hybrid events with some very useful advice on applying for postdoctoral positions
Third year PhD student Davide Bufalini midway through his talk on "Black Holes in String Theory"
Third year PhD student Davide Bufalini midway through his talk on "Black Holes in String Theory"
Prof. Geraint Thomas from UCL giving virtual yet interactive talk on interdisciplinary research
Prof. Geraint Thomas from UCL giving virtual yet interactive talk on interdisciplinary research
Dr Helen Ogden giving a talk on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
Dr Helen Ogden giving a talk on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
Students discussing a question posed by Dr Ogden on EDI
Students discussing a question posed by Dr Ogden on EDI
OR PhD student Karl Steinborn-Busse discussing with attendees during an interactive part of his talk on optimisation
OR PhD student Karl Steinborn-Busse discussing with attendees during an interactive part of his talk on optimisation
PGRs enjoying snacks and puzzles in between talks
PGRs enjoying snacks and puzzles in between talks
Dr. Alister Boags gives tips
Dr. Alister Boags giving some tips on using the Supercomputer in an event held online.
Lawk Mineh talks
2nd Year PGR Lawk Mineh giving a neat talk on group theory over video call.
Prof. Gareth Ffowc Roberts answering a question on the stigma surrounding mathematics after his talk on mathematics education
Prof. Gareth Ffowc Roberts answering a question on the stigma surrounding mathematics after his talk on mathematics education
PGR Phillip Wells mid-way through his research talk on using spatial statistics to understand urban forest structures"
PGR Phillip Wells mid-way through his research talk on using spatial statistics to understand urban forest structures

Our past seminars | 2022

January 26th
Iridis 5: What is it for and how do I use it?, Dr. Alister Boags (iSolutions)
Groups as unions of subgroups, Lawk Mineh

Our past seminars | 2021

December 8th

Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in Mathematical Sciences, Dr. Helen Ogden
Introduction to Bilevel Optimisation, Karl Steinborn-Busse

November 17th
My adventures in interdisciplinary research with "real world" scientists, Professor Geraint Thomas, UCL
Black Holes in String Theory, Davide Bufalini

October 27th
Postdocs and fellowships: applying and succeeding, Dr David Turton
Modelling Neutron Stars, the (Second?) Coolest Objects in the Universe, Marcus Hatton

October 13th
How to write Mathematics, Dr Nick Wright
When making up values for missing data goes wrong, Lily Clements

September 29th
Tomorrow's skills, today - with LinkedIn Learning, Jonathan Lightfoot (iSolutions)
Manifolds with metrics of positive scalar curvature, Sam Hughes

July 21st
A PhD to Postdoc story, Dr Abigail Linton
Gaussian processes and likelihood approximations, Theodora Nearchou

June 16th
Life in a large collaboration, Professor Ian Jones
Visualising the Hopf Fibration, Sebastian Chenery

May 5th
Winning over the outside world: grants and industry funding, Professor Christine Currie
From Farm to Fork - Matheuristics for Complex Food Supply Chains, Mike Flynn

April 14th
How to teach a technical course and have fun in the process, Dr Selin Ahipasaoglu
Optical properties of dielectric nanostructures, Tristan Madeleine

March 17th
How to be an "author", Professor Nils Andersson
Optimal Control of Autonomous Flying Vehicles in a Highly Dynamic Environment, Luigi Bobbio

February 19th
A Journey from Academia to Academia with a Stop at Coaching Station, Dr. Ramesh Vahidi
Better Together? Combining data sources to project England and Wales fertility, Joanne Ellison

January 27th
An Overview of support for PGRs, Ru Prescott (Enabling Services) and Lydia Townsend (Student Life)
Rubik's cubes and torsion in infinite groups, Vladimir Vankov

Our past seminars | 2020

December 9th
Presenting your work: tips for talks on conferences and seminars, Dr Andreas Schmitt
Social Finance: a model of social influence on financial markets, Giuseppe Di Nardo

February 19th
From pure to applied and back: interdisciplinary research, Dr Ruben Sanchez Garcia
Modelling the formation of skin ulcers observed in Buruli ulcer disease, Fatumah Atuhaire

January 29th
Writing your thesis, Professor Ian Leary
Extreme-mass-ratio inspirals and the binary black hole problem, Sam Upton

January 8th
Mental health and well-being, Dr. David Gammack and Dr. Ruben Sanchez
Codes and Numbers: Modelling of competing risks in human mortality, Daniel Černín

Our past seminars | 2019

December 4
Life in the Real World, Ruth Walton (From Carnival UK)
The Simplest Objects we do not Understand, Guy Boyde

November 13
Questions and answers on claiming expenses at Southampton, The Finance Team
Decisions are hard, Laura Murray

October 23
It's time for some Game Theory, Professor Jörg Fliege
Eggs, flour, and sugar: A recipe for high-dimensional doughnuts, George Simmons

October 2
A Personal View of How to Survive a PhD, Dr. Christine Currie
Forestry Operations and Group Theory, Naomi Andrew

June 19
Academic careers after PhD: Opportunities and challenges as a postdoc and beyond, Dr. Andreas Schmitt
Large-scale Simulation of Binary Neutron Star Mergers using the Einstein Toolkit, Peter Hammond

May 29
Some Things that Might be Worth Knowing, Professor Ian Leary
Fullerenes in Algebraic Topology, Matthew Staniforth

May 1
How to Survive a PhD in the Mathematical Sciences, Dr. Armando Martino
Bilevel Optimisation: Applications and Solution Methods, Karl Steinborn-Busse

March 20
Mathematics in Industry, Dr. Georgina Lang (Smith Institute)
Utilising the Services of the Print Centre, Print Centre team

February 19
Equality and Diversity in Mathematical Sciences: what can we do? Dr. Helen Ogden
Transport in Cell Biology, Michael Casey

January 23
Acquiring Academic Grants, Professor Stephen Theriault
Data Management in Research, Daniel Černín
A Brief Introduction to Topological Data Analysis, Megan Palser

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