We explore the field of discrete optimisation and how industries and companies use it to make decisions for complex problems. Our guest is Monash University Professor Peter Stuckey, a pioneer in constraint programming (CP) which is a powerful approach to solving discrete optimisation problems. Professor Stuckey explains why he believes optimisation is the intelligence behind AI. Our host is Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi.

We explore the field of discrete optimisation and how industries and companies use it to make decisions for complex problems. Our guest is Monash University Professor Peter Stuckey, a pioneer in constraint programming (CP) which is a powerful approach to solving discrete optimisation problems. Professor Stuckey explains why he believes optimisation is the intelligence behind AI. Our host is Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi.

Welcome to The Random Sample - a podcast from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems (MACSYS).  In this podcast, we share stories about mathematics, statistics, data science and the people involved. The Random Sample is also proud to have the support of these supporting partners: the Australian Data Science Network (ADSN), the Statistical Society of Australia (SSA), the Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS), the OPTIMA ARC Training Centre, the MATRIX Mathematical Research Institute, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). ACEMS created the podcast in 2018. For further resources and show notes, visit therandomsample.com.au

Welcome to The Random Sample - a podcast from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems (MACSYS).&nbsp; In this podcast, we share stories about mathematics, statistics, data science and the people involved. The Random Sample is also proud to have the support of these supporting partners: the Australian Data Science Network (ADSN), the Statistical Society of Australia (SSA), the Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS), the OPTIMA ARC Training Centre, the MATRIX Mathematical Research Institute, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). ACEMS created the podcast in 2018. For further resources and show notes, visit <a href="https://www.therandomsample.com.au/">therandomsample.com.au</a>

Stories about mathematics, statistics and the people involved

The Random Sample

Welcome to The Random Sample - a podcast from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems (MACSYS). In this podcast, we share stories about mathematics, statistics, data science and the people involved. The Random Sample is also proud to have the support of these supporting partners:  Australian Data Science Network (ADSN), Statistical Society of Australia (SSA), Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS), OPTIMA ARC Training Centre, MATRIX Mathematical Research Institute, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). ACEMS created the podcast in 2018. For further resources and show notes, visit therandomsample.com.au

Welcome to The Random Sample - a podcast from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems (MACSYS). In this podcast, we share stories about mathematics, statistics, data science and the people involved. The Random Sample is also proud to have the support of these supporting partners:&nbsp; Australian Data Science Network (ADSN), Statistical Society of Australia (SSA), Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS), OPTIMA ARC Training Centre, MATRIX Mathematical Research Institute, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). ACEMS created the podcast in 2018. For further resources and show notes, visit <a href="https://www.therandomsample.com.au/">therandomsample.com.au</a>

Optimisation: The Intelligence Behind AI

How are statistics and data science transforming advances in genetic sequencing into new insights about how people lived, formed families, and organised their societies thousands of years ago?

Our guests are Dr Adam “Ben” Rohrlach, an Australian statistician at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, and Dr Simon “Jono” Tuke, Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. From their early collaboration during Ben’s PhD to their ongoing work today, they’ve combined mathematical rigour with archaeological and genetic research to help uncover patterns in ancient human life that would otherwise remain hidden.

Together, they’ve applied cutting-edge statistical methods to support major discoveries – including their contribution to the 2017 Eureka Prize–winning research confirming the connection between Aboriginal Australians and their ancestral lands.

In this conversation, we revisit that work and dive into their latest research, using ancient DNA to reconstruct family networks in a European society from over 1,300 years ago. It’s a fascinating look at how collaboration across disciplines – and the power of statistics – can bring us closer to understanding the lives of people from the distant past.

Our host is Dr Haripriya Sridharan – a MACSYS Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne.

Episode webpage:   https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/ancient-dna/

 

How are&nbsp;statistics and data science transforming advances in genetic sequencing&nbsp;into new insights about how people lived, formed families, and organised their societies thousands of years ago?
Our guests are Dr Adam &ldquo;Ben&rdquo; Rohrlach, an Australian statistician at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, and Dr Simon &ldquo;Jono&rdquo; Tuke, Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. From their early collaboration during Ben&rsquo;s PhD to their ongoing work today, they&rsquo;ve combined mathematical rigour with archaeological and genetic research to help uncover patterns in ancient human life that would otherwise remain hidden.
Together, they&rsquo;ve applied cutting-edge statistical methods to support major discoveries &ndash; including their contribution to the 2017 Eureka Prize&ndash;winning research confirming the connection between Aboriginal Australians and their ancestral lands.
In this conversation, we revisit that work and dive into their latest research, using ancient DNA to reconstruct family networks in a European society from over 1,300 years ago. It&rsquo;s a fascinating look at how collaboration across disciplines &ndash; and the power of statistics &ndash; can bring us closer to understanding the lives of people from the distant past.
Our host is Dr Haripriya Sridharan &ndash; a MACSYS Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne.
Episode webpage: &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.therandomsample.com.au/?post_type=podcast&amp;p=2154&amp;preview=true">https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/ancient-dna/</a>
&nbsp;

From DNA to Discovery: How Statistics Brings the Ancient Past to Life - with Dr Adam "Ben" Rohrlach & Dr Simon "Jono" Tuke

In this episode of The Random Sample, we explore the science of scale – from the behaviour of granular materials to the remarkable world of nanotechnology. Professor Natalie Thamwattana, an applied mathematician from the University of Newcastle, shows how studying the very small can lead to big insights across science and engineering.

Her pioneering work in nanotechnology is helping unlock how some of nature’s smallest building blocks can tackle some of our biggest challenges – in medicine, energy, and electronics. In a field often dominated by heavy numerical simulations, Natalie was among the first to take a different path, developing analytical, formula-based approaches to understand the mechanics of carbon nanostructures.

Alongside her research, Natalie shares a deeply personal story of growing up in Thailand and forging a path into mathematics. It’s a journey shaped by resilience, curiosity, and the support of her family – one that led to an international career at the forefront of applied mathematics.

Our host is Cait Pryse – from The University of Melbourne.

Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/nanotechnology-natalie-thamwattana/

In this episode of&nbsp;The Random Sample, we explore the science of scale &ndash; from the behaviour of granular materials to the remarkable world of nanotechnology. Professor Natalie Thamwattana, an applied mathematician from the University of Newcastle, shows how studying the very small can lead to big insights across science and engineering.
Her pioneering work in nanotechnology is helping unlock how some of nature&rsquo;s smallest building blocks can tackle some of our biggest challenges &ndash; in medicine, energy, and electronics. In a field often dominated by heavy numerical simulations, Natalie was among the first to take a different path, developing analytical, formula-based approaches to understand the mechanics of carbon nanostructures.
Alongside her research, Natalie shares a deeply personal story of growing up in Thailand and forging a path into mathematics. It&rsquo;s a journey shaped by resilience, curiosity, and the support of her family &ndash; one that led to an international career at the forefront of applied mathematics.
Our host is Cait Pryse &ndash; from The University of Melbourne.
Episode webpage: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.therandomsample.com.au/?post_type=podcast&amp;p=2078&amp;preview=true">https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/nanotechnology-natalie-thamwattana/</a>

From Granular to Nano: Big Science at Small Scales – with Prof Natalie Thamwattana

Mathematics is often used to model how diseases spread. But what about the spread of information – or misinformation – about those diseases and their vaccines?

Professor Stacey Smith? from the University of Ottawa is a trans mathematician whose research focuses on modelling infectious diseases. Increasingly, her work has turned to the social and behavioural dynamics that shape anti‑vaccination sentiment.

In this conversation, we explore how mathematical approaches can help make sense of attitudes ranging from vaccine hesitancy to outright resistance, and why understanding these dynamics is critical for effective public health responses.

The episode is hosted by Eva Stadler, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Infection Analytics Program at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney. Together, Eva and Stacey discuss how tools from the mathematical sciences can be applied well beyond traditional epidemiology, intersecting with psychology, sociology, and communication science.

This episode is part of a special two‑part series released to coincide with Women in Mathematics Day (12 May), celebrating the contributions of women – and those who identify as women – in the mathematical sciences worldwide. The other episode in the series explores how the mathematical sciences are playing an increasingly important role in understanding women’s health.

Mathematics is often used to model how diseases spread. But what about the spread of information &ndash; or misinformation &ndash; about those diseases and their vaccines?
Professor&nbsp;Stacey Smith?&nbsp;from the University of Ottawa is a trans mathematician whose research focuses on modelling infectious diseases. Increasingly, her work has turned to the social and behavioural dynamics that shape anti‑vaccination sentiment.
In this conversation, we explore how mathematical approaches can help make sense of attitudes ranging from vaccine hesitancy to outright resistance, and why understanding these dynamics is critical for effective public health responses.
The episode is hosted by&nbsp;Eva Stadler, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Infection Analytics Program at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney. Together, Eva and Stacey discuss how tools from the mathematical sciences can be applied well beyond traditional epidemiology, intersecting with psychology, sociology, and communication science.
This episode is part of a special two‑part series released to coincide with&nbsp;Women in Mathematics Day (12 May), celebrating the contributions of women &ndash; and those who identify as women &ndash; in the mathematical sciences worldwide. The other episode in the series explores how the mathematical sciences are playing an increasingly important role in understanding women&rsquo;s health.

Optimisation: The Intelligence Behind AI

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