University of Bath SIAM-IMA Student Chapter Hosts Postgraduate Conference

The University of Bath SIAM-IMA Student Chapter recently organized its annual postgraduate conference, which brought together graduate students from across the U.K. and Ireland to share their research and build connections within the applied mathematics community. The chapter—which is affiliated with both SIAM and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)—aims to unite research groups and institutions across the region, providing valuable networking opportunities for Ph.D. candidates in all areas of applied math and computational science.

In late November, roughly 60 doctoral students gathered at the Engineers’ House in Bristol, England, for a full day of presentations and discussion. The University of Bath SIAM-IMA Student Chapter—led by myself (president), John Carlo Dimaculangan (secretary), and Amin Sabir (treasurer)—worked closely with Ph.D. students from the University of Bristol in a collaborative organizational effort that yielded a well-organized, engaging, and enjoyable meeting.

The program, which included 10 student talks and two plenary lectures by Ph.D.-level mathematicians, reflected the range and diversity that characterize all SIAM events. Plenary speaker Rachel Bennett of the University of Bristol opened the conference with a presentation about the intricate mechanics of cilia, after which Eric Hester of the University of Bath discussed innovative approaches to model melting icebergs. Both plenary addresses sparked lively discussions amongst the audience.

Student talks spanned a wide range of topics, including fluid mechanics, network theory, epidemiological modeling, and radiation modeling. Julius Busse of the University College Dublin spoke about his efforts to model the transport of ocean-borne debris, Neha Bansal of Cardiff University explored disease spread across different network structures, and Michael Nguyen of the University College London shared numerical models of ocean currents. All of the presenters demonstrated a high quality of research and technical prowess while clearly communicating complex ideas to an interdisciplinary audience. Every student speaker also adhered to the strict 15-minute time limit, allowing ample time for questions and discussion.

One of the most valuable aspects of the conference was the opportunity for Ph.D. students to present their ongoing work beyond the confines of their immediate research groups, and many attendees appreciated the chance to receive feedback from peers in different scientific areas. This robust exchange of ideas was evident in the question-and-answer sessions after formal presentations, during informal conversations that continued throughout the breaks, and at the afternoon poster session.

The interdisciplinary nature of the event’s program highlighted the breadth of applied mathematics and computational science and created a supportive environment for intellectual cross-pollination. Students who are actively pursuing seemingly disparate problems—from ocean currents to disease networks—found common ground in shared mathematical approaches and numerical techniques, ultimately reinforcing the value of sustained connections between diverse research communities.

Building upon the success of this event, the University of Bath SIAM-IMA Student Chapter is planning additional activities to further strengthen collaborations within the applied math community. In particular, we hope to broaden participation by involving more undergraduate students and engaging with institutions that may have fewer opportunities to attend large research conferences.

The success of the daylong meeting would not have been possible without the generous support of SIAM—which provided essential funding—and the IMA, which continues to encourage the chapter’s activities. Looking ahead, we remain committed to providing platforms for students to share their research and strengthening connections between student chapters and universities across the U.K.