Study Group Mathematics with Industry 2011

Studiegroup Wiskunde met de Industrie (SWI2011), will be held from 24th until 28th January 2011 at the Department of Mathematics of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.

News

29-06-2012: The Proceedings are finished. Paper copies will be sent to all participants.
07-02-2011: Majid Salmani took very nice pictures of the studygroup.
27-01-2011: The information on the proceedings can be found here
24-01-2011: SWI2011 has begun!
19-01-2011: The list of participants has been updated.
14-01-2011: The problem of Deltares has been posted.
13-01-2011: The program has been updated.
12-01-2011: NFI problem description can be found here.
12-01-2011: List of partipants is updated.
07-01-2011: Chess problem description can be found here.
04-01-2011: Chess and NFI participate! Problem descriptions will be posted soon.
23-12-2010: Deltares participates! The problem description will be posted soon.
21-12-2010: List of participants is updated.
14-12-2010: Marin problem description can be found here.
14-12-2010: List of participants is updated.
08-12-2010: List of participants is updated.
08-12-2010: Marin participates! The problem description will be on the website soon.
08-12-2010: There was an error on the dates of the program. The studygroup is held from the 24th till the 28th of January.
24-11-2010: List of participants is updated
17-11-2010: Registration is open.
10-11-2010: Statkraft participates! More information on their problem is in the Problem section
04-11-2010: NXP participates! More information on their problem is in the Problem section.

Background information

The Study Group is an industrial/academic week where mathematics is used to tackle industrial problems. The formula of setting aside a week for intensive study of a few real world problems originates in Oxford in 1968 and has since spread around the world (see our links page). The success of a study group can be attributed to a number of reasons, for example:

they help foster contacts between academia and industry, sometimes leading to research contracts.
they frequently lead to challenging new research areas, which have a direct bearing on physical, economical or industrial problems.
they are an excellent source of research topics for graduate students (as well as academics).
they allow companies to become acquainted with students and evaluate them for future employment.
the obvious reasons of the company wanting a problem solved.
the pleasure of working with enthusiastic colleagues.

Problems

Problems may come from a wide variety of subject areas, but should be amenable to mathematical modelling and analysis. In a week of brainstorming and mathematical modelling there is usually enough time to generate and reject many ideas for solving the problem, and usually some of the ideas are checked in more detail. Other ideas may be time consuming and lead to more research after the study group itself, for which useful contacts are made between researchers in industry and at the universities to work together if needed. The meeting helps to further establish links between industry and academia and in particular to encourage the greater use of mathematical modelling in industry. Almost all industrial problems have some mathematical aspect to them, although the mathematics is not always recognisable at first. Indeed, from our own experience, some of the most successful study group problems have not been well-defined in mathematical terminology at the start of the study group.
Each company presenting a problem pays a fee of Euro 1500 which contributes to covering the costs of the week. Interested companies are invited to contact the organising committee. Otherwise, participation is entirely free of charge. Some funds are available to cover hotel costs.

Format

The format follows the original Oxford model. On the first day, Monday, of the workshop, a representative from each company presents a problem to a large group of people with expertise in the mathematical sciences, which includes PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and professors. After the problem presentations on the first day, academic participants divide into groups each of which works with the industrial partner on the problem. The participants are free to join any of the problem sessions or to serve more projects with their expertise. After three full days of intense discussion and computation, each group presents its findings to all participants on Friday, the last day of the workshop. A more detailed written report is prepared after the workshop, which can act as a formal record of the work done for the invited company. This provides the possibility of encouraging further research, leading to new links between industry and academia.

Location

The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is ideally located. From Amsterdam airport (Schiphol) a 5 minute train ride will bring you to Amsterdam Zuid WTC station, from where it is just a 10 minute walk. It is thus easily reached by public transport, but also by car (the VU lies along the ring road A10). A frequent tram service links the university to the city centre of Amsterdam.

Contact information

Address: de Boelelaan 1081a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 5987790
Email: swi2011@few.vu.nl

Some directions on how to get here.

Organising committee

Participating companies

Organisations offering financial support

home program problem descriptions practical information proceedings participants publicity links feedback		Study Group Mathematics with Industry 2011
		Studiegroup Wiskunde met de Industrie (SWI2011), will be held from 24th until 28th January 2011 at the Department of Mathematics of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. News 29-06-2012: The Proceedings are finished. Paper copies will be sent to all participants. 07-02-2011: Majid Salmani took very nice pictures of the studygroup. 27-01-2011: The information on the proceedings can be found here 24-01-2011: SWI2011 has begun! 19-01-2011: The list of participants has been updated. 14-01-2011: The problem of Deltares has been posted. 13-01-2011: The program has been updated. 12-01-2011: NFI problem description can be found here. 12-01-2011: List of partipants is updated. 07-01-2011: Chess problem description can be found here. 04-01-2011: Chess and NFI participate! Problem descriptions will be posted soon. 23-12-2010: Deltares participates! The problem description will be posted soon. 21-12-2010: List of participants is updated. 14-12-2010: Marin problem description can be found here. 14-12-2010: List of participants is updated. 08-12-2010: List of participants is updated. 08-12-2010: Marin participates! The problem description will be on the website soon. 08-12-2010: There was an error on the dates of the program. The studygroup is held from the 24th till the 28th of January. 24-11-2010: List of participants is updated 17-11-2010: Registration is open. 10-11-2010: Statkraft participates! More information on their problem is in the Problem section 04-11-2010: NXP participates! More information on their problem is in the Problem section. Background information The Study Group is an industrial/academic week where mathematics is used to tackle industrial problems. The formula of setting aside a week for intensive study of a few real world problems originates in Oxford in 1968 and has since spread around the world (see our links page). The success of a study group can be attributed to a number of reasons, for example: they help foster contacts between academia and industry, sometimes leading to research contracts. they frequently lead to challenging new research areas, which have a direct bearing on physical, economical or industrial problems. they are an excellent source of research topics for graduate students (as well as academics). they allow companies to become acquainted with students and evaluate them for future employment. the obvious reasons of the company wanting a problem solved. the pleasure of working with enthusiastic colleagues. Problems Problems may come from a wide variety of subject areas, but should be amenable to mathematical modelling and analysis. In a week of brainstorming and mathematical modelling there is usually enough time to generate and reject many ideas for solving the problem, and usually some of the ideas are checked in more detail. Other ideas may be time consuming and lead to more research after the study group itself, for which useful contacts are made between researchers in industry and at the universities to work together if needed. The meeting helps to further establish links between industry and academia and in particular to encourage the greater use of mathematical modelling in industry. Almost all industrial problems have some mathematical aspect to them, although the mathematics is not always recognisable at first. Indeed, from our own experience, some of the most successful study group problems have not been well-defined in mathematical terminology at the start of the study group. Each company presenting a problem pays a fee of Euro 1500 which contributes to covering the costs of the week. Interested companies are invited to contact the organising committee. Otherwise, participation is entirely free of charge. Some funds are available to cover hotel costs. Format The format follows the original Oxford model. On the first day, Monday, of the workshop, a representative from each company presents a problem to a large group of people with expertise in the mathematical sciences, which includes PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and professors. After the problem presentations on the first day, academic participants divide into groups each of which works with the industrial partner on the problem. The participants are free to join any of the problem sessions or to serve more projects with their expertise. After three full days of intense discussion and computation, each group presents its findings to all participants on Friday, the last day of the workshop. A more detailed written report is prepared after the workshop, which can act as a formal record of the work done for the invited company. This provides the possibility of encouraging further research, leading to new links between industry and academia. Location The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is ideally located. From Amsterdam airport (Schiphol) a 5 minute train ride will bring you to Amsterdam Zuid WTC station, from where it is just a 10 minute walk. It is thus easily reached by public transport, but also by car (the VU lies along the ring road A10). A frequent tram service links the university to the city centre of Amsterdam. Contact information Address: de Boelelaan 1081a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands Tel: +31 20 5987790 Email: swi2011@few.vu.nl Some directions on how to get here. Organising committee Joost Hulshof Sandjai Bhulai Wouter Kager Bob Planqué Thomas Rot Participating companies Organisations offering financial support