The
Irish
Branch
Presidential Address
“From Curiosity to Commerce”
Professor Peter Grindrod
Wednesday
14th March 2007, 3.00 pm
Room to be
confirmed – look for signs!
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.
Non-IMA members welcome to attend. Refreshments available
from 2.30
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