BSGMATH NEWS
BSGMATH NEWS
Sebastià Xambó, professor of the UPC, awarded by the Real Sociedad Matemática Española
The Real Sociedad Matemática Española has announced the 2019 winners of its RESME Medal.
IAIN COUZIN: “THERE ARE ANIMALS THAT MAKE DECISIONS DEMOCRATICALLY”
Interview with Iain Couzin, professor of Biodiversity and Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz, Germany, and director of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.
Xavier Tolsa is awarded the Rei Jaume I Prize
UAB – BGSMath and ICREA professor Xavier Tolsa Domènech has been awarded the “Rei Jaime I” Prize in the category of basic research. This award recognises six different categories, and it’s sponsored every year by the Valencian Government (Generalitat Valenciana). The ceremony took place on 4 June at the seat of the Catalan Government in the city of Valencia, under the auspices of the Valencian president Ximo Puig.
Complexitat, CRM and BGSMath invite Iain Couzin, the expert in collective intelligence who discovered that animals also vote, to Barcelona
Researchers from the Center for Mathematical Research (CRM) and the Barcelona Graduate School of Mathematics (BGSMath) have launched this year's edition of the Complexity Day of the Catalan Association for the Study of Complex Systems, which brings together Catalan experts in complexity. It is celebrated today, May 21
BGSMath PhD students Robert Cardona and Clara Cufí awarded the Evariste Galoise Award by the Catalan Society of Mathematics
On April 30, the Catalan Society of Mathematics (SCM) awarded UPC and BGSMath’s PhD student Robert Cardona the Everiste Galoise Award (Premi Evariste Galois) 2019. Clara Cufí (UAB) received a secondary award.
Comunicado de prensa REM integro: Las matemáticas son responsables del 10% del PIB, según el primer estudio que analiza la intensidad matemática de la economía española
En España las matemáticas son responsables directas del 6% del empleo, pero en Reino Unido, Francia y Holanda esta cifra oscila entre el 10% y el 11%. Si se añade el impacto indirecto e inducido de las matemáticas sobre otras actividades económicas en España, las cifras alcanzan el 19,4% del empleo y el 26,9% del PIB. La empresa española incorpora aún pocos profesionales de alta intensidad matemática, como especialistas en bases de datos, finanzas o diseñadores de software. Son las ocupaciones más productivas y las que más crecerán, pese a que en España lo harán menos (0,47% anual) que en la Europa de los 15 (0,59% anual). Si en las empresas españolas hubiera la misma proporción de graduados en ciencias e ingenierías que en Francia, la productividad del trabajo aumentaría un 2,2%. Es un trabajo realizado por Afi (Analistas Financieros Internacionales) por encargo de la Red Estratégica en Matemáticas (REM), que integra la comunidad matemática española.
REM PRESS RELEASE: Mathematics is responsible for 10% of the Spanish GDP, according to the first study that analyzes the mathematical intensity of the Spanish economy
In Spain, mathematics account for 6% of the employment, while in UK, France and the Netherlands this percentage lies between 10% and 11%. Spanish industry still employs a relative low number of high-intensity mathematics professionals, such as database, finance or software design specialists. These are the most productive and faster-growing jobs. The research has been performed by Afi (Analistas Financieros Internacionales) on behalf of the Red Estratégica en Matemáticas (REM), which involves the Spanish mathematical community.
The ‘Climate Advanced Forecasting of sub-seasonal Extremes’ consortium is looking for 12 PhD candidates to join the project
The Climate Advanced Forecasting of sub-seasonal Extremes (CAFE) project is in full swing with the announcement of the call for 12 PhD Positions for the MSCA ITN CAFE: Climate Advanced Forecasting of sub-seasonal Extremes. This project will train a team of experienced interdisciplinary researchers in atmospheric and oceanic processes, in extreme meteorological phenomena and tools for their prediction.
Ros-Oton, another trophy on the shelf
The brilliant BGSMath alumnus accrues new awards: the last recognition he has received is the “Princess of Girona Foundation Scientific Research Award 2019”.
BGSMath’s Faculty members Martínez-Seara and Guardia win ICREA Acadèmia Award
Mathematicians Marcel Guardia and Maria Teresa Martínez-Seara will be able to intensify their research for five years as a result of becoming part of the ICREA Acadèmia program. “Catalan mathematics is becoming an international reference, and this prestigious award is just the last acknowledgement of this continued success”, says BGSMath Director Marta Sanz-Solé.
Juan Margalef participated in the Meeting entitled “Encounter with Science: Spanish research in the 21st Century” at the Spanish Royal House in El Pardo, Madrid
BGSMath Postdoctoral Fellow, Juan Margalef Bentabol, from the Mathematics Department (UPC), member of the Geometry and Dynamical Systems Lab and of the GEOMVAP group, participated in the meeting entitled “Encounter with Science: Spanish research in the 21st Century” that took place at the Pardo Palace yesterday, 21st March.
“A more than extraordinary woman has won the Abel Prize: it was about time!”
US mathematician Karen Uhlenbeck has worked in many areas of mathematics, and has laid the foundations for new and fertile disciplines. Apart from the prestigious award obtained today, worth €600,000, she has received recognitions such as the National Medal of Science in 2000 and the American Mathematical Society Leroy P Steel Prize in 2007. Fellow mathematician Eva Miranda (from the UPC and the BGSMath) recognises that the first woman who obtains an Abel Prize represents a milestone, and that she is an excellent model for all mathematicians around the world.
Probability of Catastrophic Geomagnetic Storm Lower than Estimated
According to a group of mathematicians, the probability in the following decade of the sun causing a storm strong enough to affect electrical and communication infrastructures around the globe “only” reaches 1.9% maximum. Nevertheless, the event would produce severe consequences and governments should be prepared, researchers warn.
SOMMa press release: First formal meeting between the Minister Pedro Duque and the alliance of Severo Ochoa centres and María de Maeztu units
On Monday, 11 February, a formal meeting at the highest level took place between representatives of the ministry and the Severo Ochoa – María de Maeztu alliance (SOMMa). The gathering, that took place in the context of the visit of the Minister to the ALBA synchrotron, certified the first formal meeting between the Alliance and the Minister Mr Pedro Duque.
BGSMath celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with an event on 14F at the IEC
Among the invited speakers: mathematician Marta Macho, youtuber Mathgurl (Inês Guimarães) and monologuist Juan Margalef.
"The world of mathematics reflects inequalities that we find everywhere," says Eva Miranda. "The good news is that we are increasingly more women in mathematics, we do research that has a great impact on society and we are more visible than ever. And, of course, we are all in love with mathematics - and there is no better day to celebrate than Feb 14".
Barcelona’s mathematical community enthusiast about Hungarian mathematician László Lovász receiving the Hipàtia Award
Many BGSMath mathematicians took part in the delivery ceremony of the first edition of the Hipàtia Award in the Sala de Cent of the Barcelona City Council, and they listened to Lovász's talk: "Graph Theory - from puzzles to a new parad". (Press release in Catalan: English soon to come)
Former BGSMath Director Marc Noy receives the Narcís Monturiol Medal
The Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya) bestowed the prestigious Narcís Monturiol Medal upon UPC professor Marc Noy, former Director of BGSMath. The ceremony will take place soon.
Una ley matemática podría anticipar la posibilidad de extinciones masivas en los ecosistemas
BGSMath's Lluís Alsedà, Álvaro Corral and Josep Sardanyés have found a more realistic way to describe "bifurcacions" and predict if a physical system (climate change, or a species extinction for example) will undergo a gradual change or a catastrophic non-return scenario. The article appeared in Scientific Reports in August (press release in Spanish).
CAFE will train 12 young scientists to tackle extreme weather events
Álvaro Corral will be leading an international partnership focused in training 12 brilliant young researchers who will advance climate change studies with a new interdisciplinary approach. “Extreme weather events are increasing as a consequence of climate change. To limit their catastrophic consequences, we need to learn how to model complex systems,” he says.
“This guy will win a Fields Medal!”
BGSMath alumnus Xavier Ros - Oton has worked closely with one of the new Fields Medal recipient, the Italian Alessio Figalli. We asked him to share with Penta readers what makes Alessio a very special person and a great mathematician.
Meet the partial differential equations tamer
The European Research Council awarded the Catalan mathematician Xavier Ros-Oton (University of Zurich) with an ERC Starting Grant. Penta met him and asked him for good advices. And No, you do not need to be a genius to be a good mathematician.
The geometry that solves every day’s problems
Researchers who, allegedly, “cannot distinguish between a donut and a cup,” and who work on the old Travelling Salesman problem joined UPC and BGSMath Faculty members Vera Sacristán and Rodrigo Silvera this spring for an Intensive Research Programme focussed on Discrete, Combinatorial and Computational Geometry.
Meet the algebraic topologist who helps biologists to analyse the brain
Kathryn Hess Bellwald was in Barcelona in the spring. "Topological vistas in neuroscience" was an exciting excursion on how math tools can benefit biomedicine. In her case, the Blue Brain Project.
Fracking and fluid-induced microseismicity: a toll for our energy thirst?
Will we be able to detect, predict and prevent the seismic hazard related to human activities such as fracking, and minimize its risks? AXA Postdoctoral Fellow Jordi Baró explains why he thinks we will.
Maryna Viazovska, the Ucranian mathematician who could have won the Fields Medal (and still could)
BGSMath Faculty member and UPC Professor Eva Miranda is the author of this op/ed in the Café con teoremas section in El País about Maryna Viazovska, an Ucranian mathematician who, in 2016, solved the sphere-packing problem in dimension 24.
BGSMath appoints its new Governing Body
The five member-institutions that constitute the BGSMath (CRM, UB, UAB, UPC, UPF) have chosen their new representatives in the Board, and they elected the new Director, University of Barcelona Professor Marta Sanz-Solé.
SOMMA Press Release: Business supports Spanish science
The Severo Ochoa Centres and Maria de Maeztu Units Alliance (SOMMa) receive the support of R&I- related industry and organizations in their efforts to persuade politicians to solve the administrative problems affecting the research sector in Spain.
“Your best asset is you.” The expert warns: pensions will inevitably be lower in the future
Risk expert Montse Guillen has strong opinions about pensions. She notes that the current pension system in Spain and in many other western countries is mathematically unsustainable. Possible solution? Lower pensions at 65, higher after 80.
April 2018’s Scientific Highlights at BGSMath
In this section of Penta, we would like to highlight our best scientific papers. If you feel one of your published papers is especially relevant and would like to see it highlighted in the newsletter, please send it to highlights@bgsmath.cat.
“Machine learning will help companies and administration to take better decisions”
Jordi Vitrià is one of the authors of a new book on big data, deep learning, and artificial intelligence published as part of a series by National Geographic. “Every human being must have the right to protect from other people’s eyes some aspects of his or her life that are perfectly legal,” he says.
“Being part of the Abel Committee has been the most enriching professional experience in my life”
UB Professor and BGSMath faculty member Marta Sanz-Solé was member of the Abel Committee between 2016 and 2017. Penta asked her to explain what is it like to be part of this prestigious body and how awardees are selected.
Industrial PhDs, a good way to foster R & D
Glòria Casanellas is in the third year of her “Industrial PhD” (“doctorat industrial”) at a company that produces lenses, Horizons Optical, in collaboration with the Polytechnic university of Catalonia (UPC).
Mathematics and business together to streamline the digital revolution
The “Maths for Industry 4.0” conference brought together mathematicians with companies aiming to start the next digital revolution. The conference on 19 February was an initiative of Mobile Week in Barcelona.
SOMMa aims at promoting Spanish science of excellence, and safeguarding its competitiveness
On 12 March, the Severo Ochoa Centres and Maria de Maeztu Units Alliance (SOMMa) has presented in Madrid its Position Paper: “Actions required to safeguarding science competitiveness”, which aims at drawing the attention of politicians to tackle some of the current administrative issues urgently and in a long-lasting manner.
“Women work in science, technology, mathematics. People need to see us in these roles”
The new BGSMath video on the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, which we celebrated on 9 February
PhD student Laurent Cantier: “When on the slackline, you can’t stop enjoying it”
Media Mentions. El Periódico de Catalunya met BGSMath and UAB PhD student Laurent Cantier for its "common people" section.
An ERC grant to study planetary instabilities (and beyond)
Marcel Guardia received earlier this year an ERC Starting Grant. Space agencies uses some of the tools he works with to calculate spaceships’ trajectories.
Everyday math: statistics for estimating participation during demonstrations
Interview to Llorenç Badiella, head of the UAB Applied Statistics Facility. Llorenç’s motto is: “statistics requires a sceptical vision of the world.” He studies how to count crowd in demonstrations with statistical methods.
“Before the end of the century, engineers will be fully involved in medical research”
Penta met Waleed Mirza, the new PhD student in the Computational Methods and Numerical Analysis Lab at the UPC, who joined BGSMath thanks to the newly established INPhINIT grant.
100xCiencia.2 meeting brought together the vanguard of Spanish research
The meeting was dedicated to the transfer of scientific knowledge to companies.
RSME awarded Marta Sanz-Solé its prestigious Medal
On 5 October, the Spanish Royal Mathematics Society (RSME) awarded Marta Sanz-Solé its prestigious Medal.
Launch of the “Alliance of Severo Ochoa Centres and Maria de Maeztu Units of Excellence”
Kickoff meeting on 18 October
Barcelona Dynamical Systems Price 2017
Àlex Haro (UB), J.Ll.Figueras (Uppsala) and A. Luque (ICMAT), recipients of the BCN Dynamical Systems Prize 2017.
ERC Starting Grant awarded to Marcel Guàrdia
Marcel Guàrdia, associate professor of UPC, has been awarded with a ERC Starting Grant ...
Amalfi Analytics, spin off from LARCA-UPC group is launched
Amalfi Analytics, spin off from LARCA-UPC group is launched Amalfi Analytics, spin off from...
Irene Arias and Eva Miranda receive ICREA Acadèmia 2016 Award
Irene Arias and Eva Miranda receive ICREA Acadèmia 2016 Award Irene Arias and Eva Miranda receive...
Launch of the Joint Lab of Symplectic Geometry and Dynamical Systems
The Laboratory of Geometry and Dynamical Systems at UPC-EPSEB promotes the collaboration between Geometers and Dynamicists ...
A Research Chair from the Fondation de Sciences Mathématiques de Paris awarded to Eva Miranda
Eva Miranda from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya ...
ERC Consolidator Grant awarded to Albert Guillén
Albert Guillén from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and ICREA Research Professor has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant in the 2016...
Collaboration agreement with the Berlin Mathematical School
BGSMath has signed an agreement for collaborating with the Berlin Mathemmatical School, a joint graduate school of the mathematics departments ...
EXCELLENCE 2016
The meeting analyzed the background where UAB has achieved their status of campus with the highest number of institutes with ...
Maria de Maeztu Grant
BGSMath was awarded in June 2015 the label “María de Maeztu” by the Spanish Government. This four year award is open to spanish research institutions...
