Sydney Mathematical Research Institute (SMRI)

A poster for the public lecture. The background is a man (Tadashi Tokieda) flying a white kite over a sunny beach

'A world from a sheet of paper' - SMRI's #InternationalDayOfMathematics public lecture by Tadashi Tokieda will be on Fri 13 March

Starting from a sheet of paper, explore magic tricks and geometry in this lecture filled with table-top demonstrations

🔗 events.humanitix.com/internationa...

#MathSky🧮

Just over 1 week left to apply to the International Visitor Program at SMRI/ The University of Sydney.

Are you a #MathSky researcher with a desire to collaborate with someone at an Australian university? Or Aus-based researchers, do you have a visitor in mind? Please share! Due 17 Feb
#CompSky

Navigating the Quantum Wonderland: Prof. Paul Davies, Arizona State Univ. Join Prof. Paul Davies from ASU for a mind-bending journey through the quantum wonderland in person!

This Friday, February 6 at 5pm, Centre for Complex Systems at the School of #ComputerScience is welcoming Prof. Paul Davies (Arizona State U) for a public lecture on "Navigating the Quantum Wonderland"

Join us to celebrate a century of quantum mechanics!

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/navigating...

International Visitor Program - Sydney Mathematical Research Institute IVP August 2023 applications are due 8 August 2023, for July 2024–June 2025 visits (general applicants) & March 2024–June 2025 for Australian citizens/PR & NZ citizens.

The applications to the Sydney Mathematical Research Institute (SMRI @sydmathinst.bsky.social) International Visitor Program close ⏰ 11:59pm (Sydney time) Feb 17.

Apply to visit, and do research at SMRI and institutions across Australia!
mathematical-research-institute.sydney.edu.au/internationa...

Talent is being left on the 'launch pad', space trailblazer warns The 2026 Australian of the Year — astronaut and space engineer Katherine Bennell-Pegg — is a strong advocate for STEM education, but fears too much talent is being left on the "launch pad".

Talent is being left on the 'launch pad', space trailblazer warns: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-26/australian-of-the-year-katherine-bennell-pegg-on-space-and-stem/106269082

Academy Fellows honoured on Australia Day Top, left to right: Professor Anne Kelso AC FAA FAHMS, Emeritus Professor Bruce Armstrong AC FAA, Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons AC FAA FTSE FRS. Bottom, left to right:Professor John Cannon AO

Congratulations to Professor John Cannon AO FAA, recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to tertiary education, to mathematical computation, to cryptography, and to the development of algebraic software systems

#MathSky

www.science.org.au/news-and-eve....

Academy Fellows honoured on Australia Day Top, left to right: Professor Anne Kelso AC FAA FAHMS, Emeritus Professor Bruce Armstrong AC FAA, Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons AC FAA FTSE FRS. Bottom, left to right:Professor John Cannon AO

“Professor John Cannon AO FAA has been recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to tertiary education, to mathematical computation, to cryptography, and to the development of algebraic software systems.” #mathsky 🎊 👉🏼 www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...

YouTube video by Sydney Mathematical Research Institute - SMRI Cohomology of p-adic period domains

Cohomology of p-adic period domains — David Hansen, National University of Singapore

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHAw...

#MathSky #SMRISeminar

YouTube video by UQ Science UQ Turing Test Public Lecture: Some Very Queer Mathematics

Prof Ben Burton’s public lecture “Some Very Queer #Mathematics” is now online, marking 75 years of the Turing Test and celebrating Alan Turing’s & LGBTQIA+ contributions to maths. @amermathsoc.bsky.social @chadtopaz.bsky.social @lgbtqstem.bsky.social #MathSky #ITeachMath #AcademicSky

Join us for the first SMRI seminar for 2026:

'Cohomology of p-adic period domains'
David Hansen (National University of Singapore)

Time and place as usual: 1 pm, Thursday 22nd January
SMRI Seminar Room (A12 Macleay Room 301) USYD

#MathSky

#MathSky reminder: just under 1 month left to apply to our International Visitor Program, based in the quadrangle here at the University of Sydney- join us and spend 4 weeks working in Australia!
Due: 17 Feb 2026. Mathematicians, please share with your networks! 🧮

"Meso-scale structures in signed networks", new preprint with Wei Zhang, Olga Boichak, Tristram J Alexander, and Tiago P. Peixoto (@tiago)

https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.11281

International Visitor Program - Sydney Mathematical Research Institute IVP August 2023 applications are due 8 August 2023, for July 2024–June 2025 visits (general applicants) & March 2024–June 2025 for Australian citizens/PR & NZ citizens.

The next round of our International Visitor Program is now open!

Math researchers from overseas, apply now to spend 4+ weeks working with new and existing collaborators here 🦘🌏

Aus researchers, please share: mathematical-research-institute.sydney.edu.au/internationa...

Due: 17 Feb 2026
#mathsky

YouTube video by Sydney Mathematical Research Institute - SMRI Gradient optimization methods: the benefits of instability

Gradient optimization methods: the benefits of instability — Peter Bartlett, UC Berkeley

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEgT...

#MathSky #SMRISeminar

Congratulations to @monsoon0.bsky.social, Geordie Williamson, @tillus.bsky.social, John Voight from the School of Mathematics at USyd, and the rest of the team, from other parts of university and beyond, for their ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust!

When Emily walked into maths class at uni, there were only three women. Then something changed Before 2020, female enrolments in advanced mathematics at the University of Sydney were in decline. But an intervention transformed everything.

Check out today's article on A/Prof Zsuzsanna Dancso's amazing interventions to reverse the decline of women in advanced maths courses: www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw...

Great article from @sydmorningherald.bsky.social about how Zsuzsanna Dancso tackled a different kind of mathematical problem: how to keep women engaged with higher level math

www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw...

#mathsky

On in 30 minutes: Peter Bartlett - Gradient optimization methods: the benefits of instability
5:30 pm, Messel Lecture Theatre, (*new location!*) Sydney Nanosciences Hub, USYD

The MathQuEST team includes leading researchers from diverse disciplines to develop a mathematically trained, agile workforce. SMRI Director Geordie Williamson will co-lead the computation theme, while SMRI Executive Director Stephan Tillmann will be Deputy Director (Operations)

A key focus will be building the critical expertise needed to protect against the imminent breakdown of cybersecurity protocols by quantum computers - right here in Australia

Congratulations to Nalini Joshi @monsoon0.bsky.social
and team, who have been awarded $35m from the ARC to establish the ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust (MathQuEST) #mathsky

🚨 #CentresOfExcellence #CE26 announcement:

❗️Outcomes announced publicly for ARC Centres of Excellence 2026❗️

See ARC's RMS for list ➡️ https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/288

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YouTube video by Sydney Mathematical Research Institute - SMRI Is Dijkstra’s Algorithm Optimal?

Our special Basser-SMRI Seminar with
@sydneycompsci.bsky.social
is now on YouTube:

Is Dijkstra’s Algorithm Optimal? — Robert Tarjan, Princeton University

youtu.be/Pc40q0JGdjc

Moti Yung at the lectern

Bob Tarjan at the lectern

Wonderful turnout and enthusiasm this week for #ComputerScience, with packed rooms for Bob Tarjan and Moti Yung's Basser seminars! #USyd

What's On Calendar - Sydney Mathematical Research Institute View seminars at the Sydney Mathematical Research Institute, including SMRI Algebra and Geometry Online & Applied Maths seminars.

A short course by SMRI visitor Yunwen Lei (University of Hong Kong) - Statistical Learning Theory - kicks off today

More details:
mathematical-research-institute.sydney.edu.au/seminars/

#MathSky

Just one more week until applications for the International Visitor Program at SMRI open again!

Join us for 4 weeks at our mathematical hub in Sydney to collaborate with researchers based all around Australia 🌏🐨

#MathSky

Join us for a special talk by Peter Bartlett (UC Berkeley), part of the focus period 'Mathematical Science for AI Safety' currently running at SMRI

'Gradient optimization methods: the benefits of instability'

5:30 pm, Wednesday 10th December 2025
Old Geology Lecture Theatre, USYD
#MathSky

YouTube video by Sydney Mathematical Research Institute - SMRI Mathematical Science of AI: Interview of Marcus Hutter and Cole Wyeth by Daniel Murfet

The latest SMRI interview captures some of the discussions behind the focus period, 'Mathematical Science of AI Safety' -
Dan Murfet interviews Marcus Hutter and & Cole Wyeth, catch up below
👇
youtu.be/tgKaGiI6Ogc
#MathSky #AISafety

Woman or gender minority curious about the mathematics of waves? 🌊👋
Keen to spend a life-changing week at Princeton IAS this May, for a lecture series on "Waves, Wave Packets, and Their Interactions"?

Good news! Apply by ⏰ Feb 6 for the Women and Mathematics program! www.ias.edu/math/wam/wam...

Bob Tarjan, at the lectern, in front of a slide titled "Observations" about theoretical computer science research

The one and only Bob Tarjan, delivering a lecture at #USyd to a packed auditorium, in a joint SMRI/Computer Science seminar!
@sydmathinst.bsky.social @sydneycompsci.bsky.social