Program Extras

Registration and Opening Session

Monday 6 July | Room 216 (building 42) The University of Queensland and online
Registration: 9.00am – 9.30am AEST
Opening Session: 9.30am – 10.30am AEST followed by morning tea

Kick off AMSI Winter School 2026 by meeting your fellow participants and the team who will be your hosts for the next two weeks. Collect your name badge and event swag (water bottle, notepad with pen, pocket program) before we officially open the School. Take your seat and hear from our guest speakers as we welcome you to two weeks of learning, collaboration and connection.

Public lecture in partnership with BrisScience
How Shape Matters: An Introduction to Topology

Monday 6 July | The Edge, State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Bank and online
Public lecture: 6.30-7.30pm AEST
Light refreshments: from 7.30-8.00pm AEST

Topology studies shape in its most basic form: the properties of spaces that remain unchanged when they are bent or stretched but not cut or glued. Using simple visual examples such as surfaces, ribbons, and knots, this talk introduces how mathematicians think about shape and where these ideas appear in real-life applications beyond pure mathematics.

Dr Agnese Barbensi is a lecturer at the University of Queensland. She earned a PhD at Oxford after degrees at Pisa and postdoctoral posts in Oxford and Melbourne. An applied and computational topologist, she uses knot theory, algebraic topology and network theory to study complex folding and dynamics of proteins and DNA.

Participant Talks

Wednesday 8 July, 2.00pm – 4.30pm AEST | Rooms TBC, The University of Queensland and online
Friday 10 July, 2.00pm – 4.30pm AEST | Rooms TBC, The University of Queensland and online

Share your work, build networks, and compete for up to $400 in prizes!

All participants will give a short 10-minute talk on their research or thesis topic. Advanced students typically present their own results, while earlier-stage students can introduce their research area or proposed project.

Special Lecture: Make your Mathematical Mark

Friday 10 July | Room 216 (building 42) The University of Queensland and online
4.30pm – 5.00pm AEST

The oft-recycled piece that “maths can take you anywhere” is almost true. To get over the line for most jobs these days, mathematicians must be good communicators, decent programmers and up-to-date with modern AI tools. But why stop there? In this talk, I will discuss how to develop yourself into a mathematical all-rounder so that you can succeed long-term in the job of your dreams, whether that be in academia or industry.

Dr Adrian Dudek grew up in Perth and completed a maths degree at UWA before a PhD in maths (prime number theory) at the Australian National University. He then worked as an options trader at Optiver in Sydney before becoming their Head of Academic Partnerships, where he now spends much of his time heading out to universities to talk about maths and careers in industry. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland where he continues his research and teaching in number theory.

Conference Dinner sponsored by Optiver

Friday 10 July | Caravanserai Restaurant, 1 Dornoch Terrace, West End
6.00pm AEST | Dinner and drinks provided

At the end of the first week of the program, unwind over a relaxed dinner with your new friends. Take this opportunity to connect, reflect on the week’s learning and plan your weekend in Brisbane!

Special Lecture: From Transformers to Multi-Agent Systems: The Mathematics Powering AI

Wednesday 15 July | Room 216 (building 42) The University of Queensland and online
12.15pm – 12.45pm AEST

Large language models have revolutionized AI, but what’s actually happening under the hood? This talk explores the mathematical foundations of LLMs—from the attention mechanism and transformer architecture to the optimization challenges of running agents at scale. We’ll examine how concepts from linear algebra, probability theory, and dynamics come together to enable these remarkable systems.

Beyond single models, deploying AI in production requires orchestrating multiple agents into complex systems. These multi-agent architectures surface rich mathematical problems.  We’ll explore how classical mathematical frameworks provide both insight and practical solutions to these emerging challenges.

Whether you’re curious about the mathematics of modern AI or interested in where optimization, control theory, and information theory meet production systems, this talk bridges theory and practice.

Dr Isaac Donnelly is General Manager of Intelligent Contacts at Optus. He leads one of Australia’s largest AI groups, applying advanced mathematics to transform customer experience at scale. A Fulbright Scholar with a PhD in Applied Mathematics, he’s worked at McKinsey and founded a startup before bringing mathematical rigor to enterprise AI deployment.