Metastability and Tipping in Complex Systems
International Conference at the University of Leicester, UK
3-5 September 2024
We are excited to host a 2.5-day conference, supported by the London Mathematical Society, from Tuesday 3rd September (lunch time) to Thursday 5th September 2024 (lunch time). The programme will consist of invited keynote talks, contributed talks, posters, and socials.
Keynote speakers
- Maria Cameron, University of Maryland
Tentative title: Theory and Computation of Quasipotentials - Bartłomiej Dybiec, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
Tentative title: Metastability and Jump Processes - Steve Fitzgerald, University of Leeds
Tentative title: Stochastic Transitions in Materials Science - Kathrin Padberg-Gehle, Leuphana University Lüneburg
Tentative title: Metastability and Quasi-Invariant Sets - Tobias Grafke, University of Warwick
Tentative title: Rare event Sampling and Transitions between Competing Metastable States - Aneta Koseska, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology
Tentative title: Emergence of quasi-stability in biological systems - Ying-Cheng Lai, Arizona State University
Global phase-space approach to rate-induced tipping in complex biological networks - Grigorios Pavliotis, Imperial College London
Tentative title: Critical and Phase Transitions in Multiagent Models - Sergei Petrovskii, University of Leicester
Tentative title: Long Transients in Ecology - Larissa Serdukova, University of Leicester
Tentative title: Lévy Noise with Applications to Climate
Theme
Many complex systems are metastable: they possess states that are typically long-lived but between which the system may switch spontaneously, e.g. through noise-induced transitions between coexisting attracting states or due to transient phenomena. Identifying transient metastable states and anticipating critical transitions (tipping) has become a key research focus in applied mathematics, driven by the need for advanced techniques to meet today's societal challenges.
The goal of this conference is to exchange recent results in mathematics and its applications around the theory of metastability for complex systems. Bringing together an interdisciplinary community of experts, we seek to explore different definitions of metastability that account for its rich phenomenology. This includes the emergence of metastability from adding noise to dynamical systems exhibiting multistability (i.e. featuring multiple competing attractors), but also the view of long transient behaviour as a convincing mathematical description of metastable dynamics. A particular focus will be on advances that go beyond common assumptions which restrict our understanding of real phenomena, such as non-autonomous, non-equilibrium dynamics and non-Gaussian noise.
We invite contributions on a wide range of topics from large deviation theory, exit problems, transition path theory, rare event sampling and numerical techniques to chaos theory, stochastic differential equations, stochastic processes and early-warning indicators. Fostering the interaction between pure mathematical research and applications, we seek to connect areas like climate, ecology, power systems, biophysics, materials science and data science.
Preliminary programme
| Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.00 - 10.30 | Invited talk Contributed talks |
Invited talk Contributed talks |
|
| 10.30 - 11.00 | Coffee | Coffee | |
| 11.00 - 13.00 | Invited talks Contributed talks |
Invited talks Contributed talks |
|
| 13.00 - 14.30 | Registration opens | Lunch | Closing |
| 14.30 - 16.00 | Welcome Invited talks |
Invited talk Contributed talks |
Free discussion |
| 16.00 - 16.30 | Coffee | Coffee | |
| 16.30 - 18.00 | Contributed talks Poster reception |
Invited talk Free discussion |
|
| Evening | Poster reception | Dinner |
Important dates
- Abstract submission deadline: 25 June
- Notification of acceptance: Beginning of July
- Early-bird registration deadline: 9 July
- Registration closes: 31 July
Abstract submission
Abstract submissions are now open until the extended deadline on 2 July.
We warmly invite abstract submissions for contributed talks and posters. We welcome a wide range of topics related to metastability and tipping behaviour as well as stochastic dynamics and transient phenomena, from theoretical to applied studies.
Registration
Register before 9 July to secure the early-bird rate! Registration is open until 31 July.
The registration fee includes full attendance (Tuesday to Thursday), coffee breaks, and the poster reception on Tuesday evening. Attendees are invited to join the self-funded dinner on Wednesday evening.
- Student fee: £70
- Early-bird regular fee: £100
- Regular fee: £150
Support
If you are an early-career researcher and face difficulties covering the costs of attending this conference, please get in touch with us as we may have limited funds available to support early-career researchers. Please understand that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The London Mathematical Society believes that all parents working in mathematics should be able to attend conferences/research meetings without being hindered by childcare costs and thereby administers a Childcare Supplementary Grant Scheme. Further information about this scheme can be found on the LMS website.
Venue
The conference will take place in Lecture Theatre 1 of the Bennet Building, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Getting there. Located in the heart of England, Leicester is conveniently linked by rail to other UK cities (London - 1h, Birmingham - 1h, Leeds - 2h, Edinburgh - 5h) and airports (East Midlands Airport - 1h, London Luton and Birmingham Intl Airport - 1.5h, London Heathrow and Stansted - 2.5h).
Organisers
- Peter Ashwin, University of Exeter
- Reyk Börner, University of Reading
- Valerio Lucarini, University of Leicester
- Larissa Serdukova, University of Leicester
Contact: reyk.boerner@reading.ac.uk
The event is generously funded by the London Mathematical Society under their conference grant scheme.