Solution Set 7 posted

I have posted the solutions for problem sheet 7. Note the separate document for problem 7.6.

2 DPhil studentships in network science available

I am looking for postgraduate students. In particular, I have two D.Phil. studentships in network science available starting Fall 2009.

One of them concerns financial networks.

The other one concerns political networks.


Please contact me to discuss these open positions if you are interested.

Solution Set 6 posted

I have posted solution set 6.

Solution Set 5 posted

I've posted solution set 5.

Solution Set 4 posted

I've posted solution set 4.

Solution Set 3 posted

I've posted the solutions to the third problem sheet.

Solution Set 2 posted

I have now posted the second solution sheet.

Solution Sheet 1 posted

Solution sheet 1 is now posted.

Drinks Reception for Oxford Chapter of SIAM (Tuesday, 21 October, 5pm)

On 21 October at 5pm, the Oxford chapter of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) will be hosting a drinks reception in the common room of the Mathematical Institute. Please come!

The SIAM chapter will be hosting several more events this year, including a young mathematicians' workshop in Hilary Term. Membership is free, and it will entitle you to free membership in SIAM (which is an excellent career move). This will give you a chance to interact with undergraduate students, postgraduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty in applied mathematics and computational science.

Welcome to Perturbation Methods (C6.3a), Fall 2008

This is the website for Maths C6.3 (Perturbation Methods) for the Michaelmas 2008 term.

The lecture meets on Mondays at 3:00 pm and Tuesdays at 11:00 am in L2 in the Mathematical Institute. (As usual, lectures start 5 minutes after the hour and end approximately 5 minutes before the hour.)

On this blog, I'll be posting links, answering questions that are of general relevance to the course, etc.


The classes (which meet starting in week 2) are as follows:

(1) Monday 1:00 - 2:00 pm, DHSR3, Teacher: Becky Shipley, TA: Thomas Woolley

(2) Monday 2:00 - 3:00 pm, DHSR3, Teacher: Me, TA: Tim Squires

(3) Tuesday 12:30 - 1:30 pm, DHSR3, Teacher: Dave Hewett, TA: Tim Squires

(4) Tuesday 1:30 - 2:30 pm, DHSR3, Teacher: Phil Trinh, TA: Thomas Woolley


For each N = 1,...,7, the Nth problem sheet is due by Friday at 5pm of week N. It will then be discussed in class in week N + 1.

Getting into Dartington House on Monday May 5th

Monday is a bank holiday, and I have been sent a relevant note from the OCIAM secretary regarding getting into the building on that day. Here is the text of the message:

"Please be sure that you let them know that although their university
card will work on the door that they will also need to use the digital
code and/or ring buzzer 9 for Kate or Peter.

They will also need to get through the white card doors."


The instructions to call '9' should be on the front door, and that will allow someone to unlock the door for you.

Bicycles in London: eBourbaki mathematical modeling contest

Eliana Hechter of eBourbaki just sent me an e-mail about the following:

e-Bourbaki, "a mathematical problem-solving firm whose mission is to solve the world's mathematical problems using contests to inspire innovation and creativity", sponsors a mathematical modeling contest every spring and the recently-announced 2008 contest pertains to bicycles in London.

I encourage any and all mathematics students to participate in this!

Here is what Eliana wrote in her e-mail:

I am writing to inform you about an upcoming contest for students of
mathematics, computer science, and engineering in the United
Kingdom. The contest, which asks students to mathematically model a
low-cost bicycle rental service for the City of London, will
commence at 5pm on Monday, May 5, 2008 and end at 5pm on Monday, May
12, 2008. We hope that you will encourage the students with whom you
have contact to participate.

The first prize is ?1000 and winning projects may have the potential
to be implemented as London strives to become more sustainable and
efficient in its transportation infrastructure.

The contest is hosted by eBourbaki, a mathematical problem-solving
website I founded dedicated to increasing interest and involvement
in mathematics in the global community, and is sponsored by Winton
Capital. Further information can be found at our website,
www.ebourbaki.com. Participation in the contest requires contestants
to register with eBourbaki website and we encourage participants to
do so as soon as possible, to stay informed about contest details.

In the past others have used eBourbaki questions as part of their
teaching program, or as a 'final project' for applied modeling
classes. We are happy to work with professors if they choose to
consider this option.