Science

Topic

Should We Control the Weather?

Panel:
Prof. John Norbury (Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford)
Prof. Paul Williams (University of Reading)
Sofija Stefanovic (Msc Mathematical and Theoretical Physics)

Chair:
Simone Fasciati (DPhil, Physics)

When: Thursday, 14th February, 5.45 – 7pm. Wine Reception from 5.15pm
Where: Oakeshott Room, Lincoln College, Turl St, Oxford

Speakers bio:

Dr John Norbury is a fellow of Lincoln College and an emeritus lecturer at the Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He was born and educated in Australia, before pursuing a PhD in applied mathematics in Cambridge. After working and teaching for several years at University College London he came to Oxford, where he has been carrying out research with a focus on applying mathematical models to real world problems, e.g. in biological systems, fluid dynamics, stock markets, and global weather patterns. In addition to 150+ scientific publications, he has co-written an award-winning popular science book titled “Invisible in the Storm”, which offers a historical perspective on how mathematical and scientific ideas influenced modern weather forecasting.

Dr Paul D. Williams is Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading, UK. He previously held a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. He was educated at Oxford University, receiving a first-class degree in physics and a PhD in atmospheric physics. He specialises in atmospheric modelling, turbulence, and climate change. In particular, he is noted for his published scientific studies showing that climate change could double or treble the amount of severe turbulence in the atmosphere, causing aircraft flights to become much bumpier in the coming decades. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers and two books.

Sofija Stefanovic is reading for the MSc Mathematical and Theoretical Physics at Oxford, and hoping to specialise in theoretical condensed matter physics. She graduated from Amsterdam University College in 2018 with a major in Physics. For her undergraduate thesis she worked with Dr Jasper van Wezel to model interfaces between distinct phases of quantum matter related to topological insulators. Her interests include research into quantum phases of matter which could form a basis for new quantum technologies and quantum computers – some of which are predicted to both lead to more efficient forms of energy transport, and help tackle problems in climate change research.