EViMS: Workshop on the Effective Use of Visualization in the Mathematical Sciences

The Effective Use of Visualization in the Mathematical Sciences

Background and Objective

Visualization is used widely in the sciences and engineering, and indeed in the humanities, as a powerful and in many cases indispensable tool in the practice and teaching of those disciplines and in the communication of information to appropriate stakeholders. Such fields as nanotechnology and biotechnology, especially, exploit and demand visualization techniques of ever greater sophistication, exciting the enthusiasm of their stakeholders and indeed of the educated citizen who follows their progress.

Yet despite its fundamental dependence on relevant mathematical algorithms, the exploitation of visualization in the mathematical sciences themselves falls far short of its demonstrated potential. There is enough accumulated experience to assure us that by exploiting visualization more effectively we can make our subject matter more engaging to the consumer and also catalyse fertile research opportunities that traditional computational techniques are unlikely to expose. Mathematicians gain new insights by visualizing numbers in various ways, e.g., by viewing large matrices and pictures or by mapping the digits of numbers such as Pi to walks of certain kinds. More sophisticated tools are needed for such exploits.

While different stakeholders would like to see their tools used more widely, in many cases the tools that are available are not being propagated beyond the aficionados who have the motivation to seek them out and apply them productively in their specific field. This situation tends to create a kind of an elite and thereby a continuing perception that facility with those tools is orthogonal to, rather than an integral component of, one's expertise in a particular science. Visualization has not yet become part of the mainstream of the mathematical sciences, despite its universal recognition as a vital cognitive mechanism.

On that premise the workshop will bring together leading representatives of universities and schools, CSIRO, IBM, and other parts of the public and private sectors, to explore how our common objective of maintaining and improving the health of the mathematical sciences can be furthered through better use of visualization as offered by modern graphics and other capabilities, and aided by the continuing operation of Moore's Law. As the use of visualization consequently becomes more pervasive and mainstream, the hope and indeed the expectation is that demand and supply will generate each other in an ongoing cycle that delivers an impressive portfolio of tools, attracting the positive attention of funding sources and promising sustained benefits to our work.

Content

Contributions are sought from both producers and consumers of visualization tools on ways in which their use can enhance the effectiveness of research and development, teaching, and outreach in the mathematical sciences. For example, we would like to hear from mathematicians on what their research can offer in terms of new and more powerful visualization tools, and from representatives of the research and teaching communities on what opportunities they see for the fertile use of visualization in their specific environments, and in reaching out to their wider communities. We are also interested in seeing case studies where demonstrable outcomes have been achieved that are at least partly attributable to the use of visualization.

This meeting is also intended to start a discourse and to explore future avenues for resourcing ongoing activity.

Workshop Format

The first day will be a plenary session involving all participants. The second/third day will be a satellite meeting for technologists and researchers.

Organizing Committee

Jon Borwein (CARMA), Richard Vella (Newcastle), Louise Ryan (CSIRO, UTS), Michael Barnsley (ANU/MSI), Glenn Wightwick (IBM), Geoff Prince (AMSI), Jennifer Seberry (University of Wollongong), Judy-anne Osborn (CARMA)

Workshop Contact

Venue

The conference will be held in the Mathematics Building at the University of Newcastle. Friday's talks will be in V109, and the weekend's talks will be in V104; refreshments and discussion space will be hosted the CARMA room (V205).

Transportation

Sydney Airport to Newcastle

For those arriving at Sydney Airport we recommend taking the train to Newcastle. Take the Airport & East Hills train from Domestic/International Airport Station to Central Station and then the Newcastle and Central Coast train from Central Station to Newcastle Station. From Newcastle Station it is an easy walk to the recommended hotels. For more information and/or to plan your exact trip times see the CityRail website at www.cityrail.info.

Alternatively, there is the Happy Cabby Airport Shuttle Service which you will need to book in advance.

Newcastle Airport to Newcastle

For those arriving at the Newcastle Airport we recommend taking a taxi to Newcastle. The taxi rank is adjacent to the arrivals area of the terminal. Newcastle Taxis can be contacted directly, free-of-charge, on the dedicated taxi phone located in the arrivals end of the terminal.

Alternatively, you can catch the 130 or 131 bus from the Newcastle Airport to the Newcastle Station. From Newcastle Station it is an easy walk to the recommended hotels. For more information and/or to plan your exact trip times see the CityRail website or the Port Stephens Coaches timetables.

Local Transportation in Newcastle

Newcastle Taxis: bookings can be made online or by calling 133 300 within Australia.

Newcastle Buses: the free green 555 Newcastle Shuttle Bus runs every 20 minutes, seven days a week, on a continuous loop around the city centre.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact