Exploring the World of Optimal Transport: Luigi Ambrosio interviewed by Alfio Quarteroni
May 9, 2023
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Listen to a lively conversation between Professor Ambrosio and Professor Quarteroni as they discuss optimal transport, the evolution of mathematics in Italy, motivating young mathematicians, and unsolved problems in the field. Explore the process of writing advanced mathematical books, the Italian scientist diaspora, challenging open problems in mathematical analysis, defining distance in metric spaces, and the synergy of mathematics and machine learning.
41:36
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Quick takeaways
Luigi Ambrosio emphasizes the pedagogical value of the 'Lectures on Optimal Transport' book, structured for course use, capturing the rapid growth of optimal transport theory.
Ambrosio highlights the significance of functional analysis in understanding PDEs through optimal transport concepts, fostering advancements in geometric analysis.
Deep dives
Evolution of Optimal Transport Research
Luigi Ambrosio discusses the evolution of his interest in optimal transport dating back to a summer school in Madeira, highlighting the shift towards focusing on optimal transport due to its compelling nature. He shares his journey of developing course notes that eventually culminated in the co-authoring of the book 'Lectures on Optimal Transport'. Ambrosio emphasizes the book's pedagogical value by structuring it for use in courses, providing a comprehensive resource while mentioning the challenges of encompassing the rapid growth of optimal transport theory within a single text.
Founding Fathers of Recent Developments in Optimal Transport
Ambrosio delves into the key figures who propelled new developments in optimal transport theory, mentioning the contributions of MEKAN, Phalacorto, and Jan Brenier. He explains how these figures revolutionized the field by associating optimal transport with probability densities, geometric settings, and fluid mechanics, leading to a paradigm shift in approaching PDEs in mathematical physics. Ambrosio highlights the significance of functional analysis in understanding PDEs through the lens of optimal transport concepts, fostering advancements in geometric analysis.
Challenges and Open Problems in Mathematics
When discussing challenging open problems in mathematics, Ambrosio points out the quest for a proven gradient flow theory for vectorial problems in the calculus of variations as a longstanding issue. He also highlights the need for a complete realization of the closure of Riemannian manifolds, posing a significant challenge in geometric analysis. These problems signify the ongoing pursuit of foundational mathematics amidst the evolution of various subfields within the discipline.
Advice for Young Mathematicians
In offering advice to young mathematicians, Ambrosio stresses the importance of being driven by passion and curiosity in pursuing mathematical exploration. He acknowledges the diverse paths students may take in their mathematical journeys, emphasizing the intrinsic sense of identifying engaging mathematical problems. Ambrosio encourages students to follow their interests and curiosity, highlighting the vital role that passion plays in propelling success and fulfillment in the field of mathematics.
In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Luigi Ambrosio, a Professor at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, as our guest. Professor Ambrosio, who recently co-authored the new textbook "Lectures on Optimal Transport" with Elia Brué and Daniele Semola, engages in a lively conversation with Alfio Quarteroni, a Professor at Politecnico di Milano. During this special interview, which is hosted by Professor Quarteroni, Professor Ambrosio shares his insights on topics such as optimal transport, the evolution of mathematics in Italy, strategies for motivating young mathematicians, and unsolved problems in his field. Originally aired by the UNITEXT Springer Nature Webinars series, this interview has been specifically adapted for the podcast format.
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