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Established in 2021, the INI Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics scheme enables “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.

In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Dr Luke Davis to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on the INI research programme “Stochastic systems for anomalous diffusion” – means to him personally.

00:00 - Introduction

00:38 - Welcome

01:55 - Taking part in “Stochastic systems for anomalous diffusion” (https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/ssd/)

05:54 - What does an early career researcher bring to an INI research programme? And what can they gain?

10:50 - Why transition from physics to mathematics?

13:40 - The experience of working at INI, “a place engineered for people to think, to talk”

15:04 - The future, the University of Edinburgh

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In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel is joined by three guests: Daniel Gardham (Surrey), Katherine Benjamin (Oxford), and Francisco de Melo Virissimo (LSE), all of whom won medals as podium finishers at the 2024 STEM for Britain awards at the UK parliament in March. The conversation covers their success in the highly competitive poster exhibition, how it felt to present their mathematical research to politicians and the public, and what the future holds for each of them from this point onwards.

> https://stemforbritain.org.uk/
> https://www.newton.ac.uk/news/ini-news/stem-for-britain-winners-2024/

00:00 - Introduction
02:20 - How does it feel to have won medals at STEM for Britain?
04:40 - What attracted you to the event?
08:10 - What’s it like presenting mathematical research to MPs and politicians?
12:10 - Learning to communicate key information quickly and more efficiently, and comparisons with academic settings
16:40 - Could all academics benefit from this kind of experience?
19:00 - How would pure maths fare at en event such as STEM for Britain?
20:50 - A strong field of finalist posters, but little time to enjoy them
23:30 - The experience of visiting Parliament and the atmosphere of the event
27:27 - What does the future hold for each of you?

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Episode recorded: 17/07/23

In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Coralie Colmez, author of the young adult novel "The Irrational Diary of Clara Valentine" - recently chosen as one of Chalkdust magazine's "books of the year". A Cambridge maths graduate herself, it was Coralie's ambition to write a story rich in both mathematics and mystery - with the Chalkdust review highlighting that "the explanations of the solutions to these puzzles are blended into the story expertly". In this interview, Coralie explains further about the books origins, its intentions and what comes next.

Find out more about Coralie's writing, download a free PDF of the book, and find links to other online sellers here: https://www.coraliecolmez.com/books

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Episode recorded: 07/07/23

In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Marianne Freiberger are joined by Tomer Schlank (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and Jeremy Hahn (MIT). Working alongside Robert Burklund and Ishan Levy, Tomer and Jeremy's recently announced a disproof of Ravenel's telescope conjecture at the June 2023 INI workshop "A panorama of homotopy theory".  Here, they explain why this was such a significant announcement, and what effect it has had on the field of homotopy theory.

2018 INI programme: https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/hhh/
2023 follow-on workshop: https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/hhhw05/

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The 23rd of June 2023 marks exactly thirty years since Sir Andrew Wiles announced his historic first proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem. He did so at the Isaac Newton Institute, during the culmination of three days of special lectures, delivered as part of the June 1993 L-functions and arithmetic programme - one of the first research meetings to take place at the recently founded INI.

To mark this happy occasion, we - together with our colleagues at Plus magazine and the Maths on the move! podcast - present this short documentary. In it we speak not only to Wiles himself, but to others who were a part of this historic moment or whose work the proof continues to inspire.

Find more, including a video interview with Andrew Wiles and accompanying article, right here: https://www.newton.ac.uk/news/ini-news/wiles-flt-30/ 

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This year, and more specifically during the week of 20 March, the Newton Gateway to Mathematics will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.

A "knowledge intermediary for the mathematical sciences" and the "impact initiative" of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, the Gateway has spent the past decade connecting mathematical research with industry, businesses, the public sector and other scientific disciplines.

To mark this happy occasion - and to look back at the past, and ahead to the future - Dan Aspel is joined by Newton Gateway manager Clare Merritt for a brief but insightful conversation.

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In this 50th (!) episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger of Plus magazine. Plus works closely with INI to help explain, celebrate and publicise the research that happens at the Institute. But what challenges does that present? And why should it happen in the first place?

00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Welcome, discussing “Communicating Mathematics for the Public”, the importance of trustworthiness
05:30 - Who you’re speaking to vs what you’re saying
07:38 - Making higher mathematics accessible to audiences: “any bit of mathematics either comes from somewhere, or is going somewhere, or both”
14:20 - Are there incommunicable subjects?
16:55 - The rarity of maths “headlines”
19:25 - The partnership between INI and Plus magazine - why is it important?
23:25 - Are some topics inherently more interesting?
25:26 - What is the end goal of maths communication? “I would love it if people could see how maths is everywhere… that maths is a language of rhythms and patterns”
30:00 - Looking to the future

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In episode #49 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Maha Kaouri are joined by presenter, writer and comedian Timandra Harkness. The author of Big Data: Does Size Matter? And Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society speaks about her current projects, how to make maths "funny", and how she came to fall in love with mathematics from an arts and humanities background.

> Visit timandraharkness.com or find Timandra on Twitter @TimandraHarknes

00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Welcome, discussing “Communicating Mathematics for the Public”
03:38 - Origins of Timandra’s interest in maths, understanding “enough to ask the right questions”
07:50 - Discussing the book “Big Data - Does Size Matter?”
11:10 - Other current projects and shows, writing another book about “why everything is personalised”
13:13 - Mingling an arts background with a mathematics focus, “coming out as a closet mathematician”
17:10 - How do you make maths funny as a comedian? ... “What’s a statistician’s favourite sandwich filling?”
21:10 - Future projects

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Episode published 15/02/23

In episode #48 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Maha Kaouri speak to Hannah Thomas of Government Analysis Function (analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk). Hannah's role at this "network for civil servants", is that of "Lead Support for Communicating Data, Statistics and Analysis" - making her the perfect person to discuss how to make data accessible.

This conversation was inspired by the Newton Gateway event  "Communicating Mathematics for the Public" at which Hannah delivered the talk "Data Visualisation and Digital Accessibility: What We Can Do to Help".

00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Welcome, discussing "Communicating Mathematics for the Public" ("as entertaining as Disneyland Paris and definitely more inspiring")
04:20 - All about Government Analysis Function, a love of data journalism, career history
13:35 - Visualising data and making digital information accessible
21:40 - Common accessibility pitfalls
24:20 - Plans for the future... e-learning resources

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Thanks to the generous support of the Simons Foundation, the INI-Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics is now in its second year of enabling “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”. 

In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Nicolas Boulle to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on an INI research programme and six months working at Cambridge University’s Faculty of Maths – means to him personally.

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Thanks to the generous support of the Simons Foundation, the INI-Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics are enabling “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”. 

In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Patrick Sprenger to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on an INI research programme and six months working at Cambridge University’s Faculty of Maths – means to him personally.

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Forced to leave Ukraine, and his work at the Institute of Hydromechanics at the National Academy of Sciences, due to the Russian invasion of February 2022, Yuriy Semenov found sanctuary in Britain at the University of East Anglia. This was in part thanks to support from INI's "Solidarity for mathematicians" programme.

This episode of the podcast tells Yuriy's story in his own words.

00:00 - Introduction
00:43 - Welcome
01:20 - Discovering the Solidarity for mathematicians programme, career history
05:20 - Leaving Ukraine following the Russian invasion: "Life changed in one day... each day started with reading the news and tracking down the front line... war reminders were frequent"
07:30 - "From time to time rockets struck the town and killed people."
08:30 - "The work of a mathematician is always possible."
09:20 - Joining INI activities, maintaining links with Ukraine
15:00 - Words for others applying to "Solidary for mathematicians": "I strongly suggest to apply for this programme."

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Now in its third year, the INI Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics scheme enables “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”. 

In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Swapnil Jaideo (SJ) Kole to learn about her journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending three months on the INI research programme "New statistical physics in living matter: non equilibrium states under adaptive control"  and nine months working with Professor Michael Cates at Cambridge University’s Department for Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics  – means to her personally.

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Professor Nataliya Vaisfel’d was until recently Head of the Chair of methods of mathematical physics at Odesa I. I. Mechnykov National University. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at King’s College London. Forced to flee Ukraine after the Russian invasion of her home country in February of this year, Nataliya has since travelled across Europe with her wheelchair-bound mother and their dogs, eventually finding sanctuary in Britain in part thanks to INI’s "Solidarity for mathematicians" programme.

This podcast tells Nataliya’s story in her own words.

00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Travelling across Europe, finding a place to live and work
13:30 - Fleeing Ukraine as a refugee ("our generation... we only saw this in some films, movies about the second World War")
18:20 - "If now it is terrible, and it seems to you absolutely dark around you, and you can't see something ahead... believe. You should trust. It will return and you will see some light. Sure. Absolutely. Never, never, never surrender."

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Episode published 20/09/22

In episode #45 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Christie Marr are thrilled to meet Ben Sparks and Katie Steckles. Ben is a mathematician, musician and speaker based at the University of Bath who works with groups as diverse as the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme and the hugely popular Numberphile YouTube channel. Katie, meanwhile, is a mathematician and communicator who lectures at Sheffield Hallam University and is regularly found presenting entertaining and insightful talks everywhere from science festivals to schools and theatres to BBC radio and TV.

As they often work together, these two experienced explainers and explorers of mathematics have much advice and insight to offer to the listener.

00:00 - Introduction
00:47 - Welcome
01:23 - About Katie
02:48 - About Ben
04:40 - Their work together
09:44 - Working remotely as a speaker and communicator, the pros and cons
14:20 - Specific advice on kit and equipment for communicating maths
22:40 - Is there something unique about communicating maths?
36:10 - Personal highlights of current work
46:00 - What to do when things go wrong: a mathematician's "emergency toolkit"
53:00 - What does the future hold?

Find out more about Ben Sparks and Katie Steckles via...
> www.bensparks.co.uk
> katiesteckles.co.uk

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Episode published 31/08/22

In episode #44 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Christie Marr speak to both Don Zagier and Silke Zagier. Don is a widely respected number theorist and currently and currently "Retired Scientific Member and Director" of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn. This summer he has been involved in two INI programmes: K-theory, algebraic cycles and motivic homotopy theory and New connections in number theory and physics. Silke, meanwhile, is an experienced administrator and historian of mathematics. Topics covered include their individual life stories, as well as the realities of being a married, travelling couple within the world of academia.

00:00 - Introduction
00:48 - Welcome
01:20 - Involvement in two consecutive INI programmes, travelling together as part of an academic career
06:30 - Being the partner of an INI visitor, the potential for bringing young children
12:20 - How to earn a significant academic reputation ("I just kept getting older and older... and people look up to you because you're still there!")
14:20: Enthusiasm, and the motto "modular forms are everywhere"
16:35: Adjusting to post-pandemic working, the challenges of delayed programmes at INI
18:20: Highlight of an INI visit: to work with such a variety of people, and to visit other institutions (see Talks elsewhere)
24:58: Silke's research into the history of Japanese mathematics during the country's "sakoku" period.

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Episode published 06/07/22

In episode #43 of Living Proof, Maha Kaouri and Christie Marr speak to Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times. Tom read Maths at Cambridge and has been covering science for the Times since 2011. He was recently involved in a Newton Gateway/V-KEMS/RAMP Virtual Study Group on The Public Perception of Science, where he presented a challenge on Communicating Mathematics. Tom was then invited to the Institute to learn more about all the mathematics programmes and activities INI hosts.

00:20 – Welcome
00:50 – The journey from a mathematics undergraduate to a scientific journalist
03:36 – The challenge of communicating mathematics
07:57 – The public perception of mathematics
10:46 – Reflecting on the benefits of a mathematics degree
13:59 – What makes a great maths story? How to persuade an editor?
20:32 – The impact of COVID-19 on scientific journalism & the public understanding of mathematics
26:01 – Maths-related topics & engaging the audience

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In episode #42 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Christie Marr speak to Prof Parimala Raman of Emory University. Parimala, the Kirk Distinguished Visiting Fellow for K-theory, algebraic cycles and motivic homotopy theory programme, has extensive experience of research in her home country of India, where she represents a significant role model for younger women beginning their careers in mathematics. Not only this, but she also has some uplifting thoughts to share on the "two-body problem" often faced by couples simultaneously pursuing academic careers in a job market where geography is a significant factor.

00:00 - Introduction
00:49 - Welcome
01:30 - First discovering mathematics, encouragement by Parimala's father
03:20 - Gender and mathematics, pursuing a PHD as a woman
05:20 - Choosing Emory University, being close to her son
07:50 - Becoming a role model for younger women, "I feel very honoured to have this kind of impact"
09:10 - Solving "the two-body problem" of following a partner's career around the globe, from Tanzania to Switzerland to India, "If he had not followed me, I would have given up mathematics at that point"
13:10 - Reconnecting with peers at INI's "K-theory, algebraic cycles and motivic homotopy theory" programme, "it has been a very, very enjoyable and fruitful trip"
17:30 - "Grab the opportunity!"

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From 8-12 January 2024, the "Equivariant methods in geometry" took place in INI's main seminar room in Cambridge, UK. So far, so routine procedure. However, this workshop had the unique twist of being run in parallel with a team at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Linked by audio-visual streaming connections, the two events were remotely connected and operated as one throughout the week.

Following successful interactions across continents (on top of the usual collaborations taking place at the Cambridge base), Dan Aspel caught up with organisers and participants: Victoria Hoskins, Praise Adeyemo, Joshua Jackson and Dominic Bunnett to find out how the partnership came about, and how others could do the same with their own research meetings.

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In this short episode, Dan Aspel speaks to Professor Ben Allanach (Cambridge, CERN) about his talk "The Force Awakens: Quantum Collisions" which he'll be delivering in INI's main seminar room for this year's Cambridge Festival.

Taking place on Saturday 23 March at 11:00, the talk is in fact now sold out. However, if you'd like to join the waiting list for any cancelled tickets you can do so here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-force-awakens-quantum-collisions-tickets-810293639087

... and remember that even if you aren't able to attend in person, the talk will be streamed live on our site and made available to view after the event. So make sure to bookmark the following two links.

Live stream: newton.ac.uk/news/watch-live
Recording: newton.ac.uk/outreach/ongoing-initiatives/cambridge-festival

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Episode published 30/01/24 

In February 2022, Olena Domanska and her family left their home in Ukraine. The ongoing Russian invasion has meant that they are yet to return to the world they left behind. However, through her engagement with INI's Solidarity for mathematicians programme, she and her family are currently based near the University of Manchester where she is continuing her work on neural networks "at the intercept of artificial intelligence and differential equations". 

In this podcast, Olena - mother to five children, including an eight-month-old daughter - talks through her experience of the Solidarity programme and how it has made the continuation of her career possible under trying circumstances.

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