31/07/2018

French researcher discusses polynomial optimization.

The first lecture at the World Meeting of Women in Mathematics (WM)² was given by French computer scientist Monique Laurent, a researcher at the Wiskunde & Informatics Center, Tilburg University, in the Netherlands. She addressed the problem of polynomial optimization (“Converge analysis of approximation hierarchies for polynomial optimizations”).

Laurent's participation in WM² was celebrated by Brazilian scientist Celina Herrera, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), who also studies combinatorial optimization and computational complexity.

“What can a computer do? We think it can do everything, but there are limits. As Professor Monique pointed out, we often have to settle for approximations. The lecture and research developed by the professor, which are brilliant, are a great contribution to our field. We have, particularly in Brazil and Latin America in general, a very strong community of scholars in this area of optimization. That's why it's so inspiring to have her in Rio,” said Celina Herrera, who was with Laurent six months ago at a congress in Europe.

The way the presentation was done, with colorful diagrams that motivate the viewers, also caught the attention of the Brazilian professor. “I think it’s a different way of presenting, typical of women. That’s why diversity in Mathematics is so important,” Herrera argued. Nigerian scientist Adenik Adeneji, from the University of Abuja, also paid close attention to Laurent's explanations and said she would seek access to the presentation. A professor of Algebra, Adeneji said the findings will be very useful for her current research.

Frenchwoman Monique Laurent, a researcher at the Wiskunde & Informatics center since 1997, highlighted the importance of young women joining a professional network when starting their careers in mathematics. “The idea of having a network is very important. It’s exciting to be part of this community and it gives me great joy to be here as part of this family,” she commented after delivering her lecture to an audience full of female mathematicians from all over the world.