Mindscapes

On a visit to the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute

by Diane Wilcox, Aug 2015

The MSRI is an excellent environment for mathematical scientists in every respect and so it is a privilege to visit. The workshops over the past two weeks have been centred round two big areas of mathematics, with overlapping communities, and cover recent developments of common interest in a thematic programme on DETERMINISTIC DYNAMICS AND RANDOMNESS IN HIGH AND INFINITE DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS. The main motivating phenomena under consideration stem from mathematical physics, with applications in almost all technological domains. Therefore, the research fields are mature and buy-in for novelty with respect to underlying concepts is high. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of open mathematical questions at the cutting edge.

The workshop in the first week provided platform for women and the confident, enthusiastic and lucid presentations by young researchers were awesome. While numbers for women in the mathematical and natural sciences  are still disproportionately low, in the US and across the globe, there is clearly progress in the right direction and the workshop continues to prove that women are capable of disciplined research and deep insights. Challenging social and intellectual norms is non-trivial and social anthropology continues to address issues of cultural development - the topic of women researchers in so-called `genius fields' is slowly becoming less obfuscated.

For my own part, the visit is a refreshing short sabbatical break from the routines of teaching,  project supervision, email and admin. There are numerous overlaps between the research domains of the programme and the different areas of mathematics where I have worked. In some respects there are more ideas to cogitate, while in others, it is great to sharpen connections and clarify insights. The shift back to starting from abstract axiomatic  perspectives rather than considering domain specific relevance of mathematical models definitely keeps the  fun in functional analysis. At the same time, domain specific insight and breadth of knowledge helps with asking key questions.

I am staying in a room rented via airbnb, which is a cost-effective service that is being supported by academic communities. The house is quiet, but quirky and the chickens are allowed to roam near my basement room window in the early morning.

When I was about 13, I thought bridge design was amazing (it was the early 80's and an academic career in the mathematical sciences happened to be completely off radar!). I enjoyed reading a library book on engineering with the Golden Gate bridge on the cover - I look forward to visiting this icon when I get to fit in some sight-seeing. So far the bridge has mostly been shrouded in fog across the bay from the hillside view of the institute and finally became more visible on some sunnier days last week.

 

Acknowledgements: I thank the MSRI and workshop organisers for facilitating the thematic programme and thank my co-authors, colleagues and students for more than a decade of thoughtful discussions and debates. This trip has been funded by the NRF of SA (the particular grant is based on my research proposal of 2013). I also thank the School of CSAM at Wits University and members of the AMF teaching team for facilitating a short sabbatical break. I would not be visiting the MSRI at this particular time without the support of an amazing, multi-tasking co-parent - I thank him and my family for allowing me time to reflect, read, write and do some advanced arithmetic.