Firms invited to address industrial problems… using mathematics

Businesses are invited to pose problems in their industrial processes to a team of mathematicians who will present mathematical models to solve and improve the systems

AN event at the University of Huddersfield gives ambitious firms an opportunity to discover the power of mathematics and how it can solve their problems and boost their business.

Taking place on Tuesday 1 May is a One Day Study Group – a form of maths “hackathon” – at which companies will be invited to describe issues they would like to see addressed.  The experts present will then form groups in order to brainstorm the problems and how maths can help find a solution.

The field of “Industrial Mathematics” is increasingly important and the University of Huddersfield is becoming a centre for the discipline.

Undergraduate and postgraduate courses are being developed and an Institute of Mathematics and Data Science is taking shape.  It is directed by Professor Fionn Murtagh, whose career has included a 12-year spell at the European Space Agency.

Another recent appointment to the University staff is William Lee, who is Professor of Industrial Mathematics.  He has extensive experience in developing, analysing and solving mathematical models of industrial processes and systems.

Specialists in industrial mathematics regularly hold study groups at which industry figures are invited to come and present their problems.  In the past, this has resulted in Professor Lee being enlisted by leading companies, such as drinks giant Diageo, which asked him to work on issues around bubbles in stout and the serving of Guinness.

He has also aided Philips in the quest for a perfect cup of coffee from the filter machines the firm manufactures.

Now the study group concept has come to the University of Huddersfield and a wide range of companies – based in the region and beyond – has been invited to attend.  Their problems will be discussed by up to 30 mathematical experts and the firms will be presented with a report describing the outcome and how long it might take to tackle the problems in full.

It is hoped that the pilot event will result in relationships being forged between firms, the University and its new Institute of Mathematics and Data Science.

• Firms or academics interested in participating in the One Day Study Group in Huddersfield on 1 May can make contact with William Lee.