About:

Mathematical models are widely used to inform high-impact decisions for humanity, such as responding to climate change, managing the economy, predicting and controlling renewable energy systems, and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet models are never perfect representations of the real world, raising questions about confidence, uncertainty, and trust in the scientific process.

This talk and expert panel discussion explored “How mathematical models describe the universe”, “What we know, what we don’t know and what we can’t know”, and why we need to “Escape from Model Land”.

17.30:  Doors open

18.00:  Introduction – Chris Budd

18.10:  Talk – Erica Thompson

18.30:  Panel discussion chaired by Chris Budd, with:

• Erica Thompson
• Julia Gog
• Dave Stainforth

Audience Q+A

19.00 - 19.30:  Tea and cake

Chris Budd is the author of “Climate, Chaos And Covid: How Mathematical Models Describe The Universe” (2023) and Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Bath.

Erica Thompson is the author of “Escape from Model Land: How Mathematical Models Can Lead Us Astray and What We Can Do About It” (2022) and Associate Professor of Modelling for Decision-making at UCL.

Julia Gog is Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Cambridge and has served on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advising the government of the United Kingdom on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Stainforth is the author of “Predicting Our Climate Future: What We Know, What We Don't Know, And What We Can't Know” (2023) and Professorial Research Fellow at the London School of Economics.