MATRIX Research Program: Integrable geometry: smooth and discrete

Description:

Integrable systems have long been used to study the global properties of surfaces arising from variational problems. More recently, integrable discretisations of the smooth theory have been developed and the cross-fertilisation of ideas between the smooth and discrete theories has been extremely fruitful for both. Originally the smooth theory provided motivation for the discrete side, but also the conceptual clarity and the ability to test conjectures within the discrete setting has led to remarkable progress in the smooth setting. A startling demonstration of this is the recent resolution of the Bonnet pair problem by Bobenko, Hoffmann and Sageman-Furnas.

This workshop will bring together leading experts from both the smooth and discrete geometry of integrable systems to facilitate the sharing of ideas, new collaborations and short lecture series for postgraduate students and early career researchers. Applications of surface geometry in mathematical physics and materials science are well-known; the computability of discrete surface geometry means that it is also proving particularly useful in architectural design and construction engineering.

This MATRIX Research Program is partially supported by AMSI and AustMS through the AMSI-AustMS Workshop Funding program, and benefits from the SMRI International Visitor Program.