01/08/2025

Gigliola Staffilani celebrates the presence of young people at the 35th CBM.

“It was great to see so many young people here during the week,” celebrated researcher Gigliola Staffilani , from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT-USA), as she began, this Friday (1st), the plenary session “The Study of Wave Turbulence: A Meeting Ground for Mathematical Techniques” – the penultimate session of the 35th Brazilian Mathematics Colloquium .

On her first visit to Brazil, the researcher thanked the event organizers and, especially, the audience that filled the auditorium early in the morning. "I've never been to Brazil, so this was a wonderful occasion. I would like to thank you all for being here on a Friday morning," she said.

At the conference, Gigliola discussed how wave turbulence theory connects different areas of mathematics, ranging from gravitational waves in space to eddies in a cup of coffee. Although common, these dynamics involve complex interactions that challenge mathematical rigor. Throughout the presentation, Gigliola shared the most recent advances in this field, as well as highlighting open questions that continue to drive research.

Gigliola Staffilani

Postdoctoral researcher Itamar Oliveira, from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), praised the work presented. “She addressed a topic that, although technical, sparks immediate interest. Talking about waves and turbulence attracts attention. And the most beautiful thing was seeing how she established connections with various other areas—even those who don't work directly with differential equations were able to benefit from something,” he assessed.

For him, the lecture also had an inclusive effect: "Many people were able to see a piece of their own research in her speech. It was a very good experience."

For Guilherme Souza de Albuquerque, an undergraduate student at UFSC (Federal University of Santa Catarina), his interest in the lecture stemmed from Gigliola's personal story. “The fact that she left a remote place in Italy and went to the United States without support, facing cultural and financial barriers, is an inspiration. It's important to know the journey behind mathematicians.”