Welcome to Carry the Two, the podcast about how math and statistics impact the world around us from the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation. While we’re in between our more in-depth seasons, we like to bring you something a little different in mini-season format. And for this mini season, we are going to highlight some of the amazing researchers who have presented at IMSI over the past year. Our fourth guest isKunal Marwaha, a PhD student at the University of Chicago studying quantum computing. Kunal joined us at IMSI for a workshop on The Power of Near-Term Quantum Experiments where he presented a talk titled On the promise of quantum advantage for classical optimization. So, without further ado let’s get into my conversation with Kunal Marwaha. Host Sam Hansen joined Kunal for a conversation about the research in his talk and Kunal’s time at IMSI.  Find our transcript here: Google Doc or .txt file Curious to learn more? Check out these additional links: Kunal Marwaha IMSI Talk: On the promise of quantum advantage for classical optimization Follow more of IMSI’s work: www.IMSI.institute, (Bluesky) @imsi.institute, (twitter) @IMSI_institute, (instagram) IMSI.institute Music by Blue Dot Sessions The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI) is funded by NSF grant DMS-1929348

Frank Wolak, a Stanford economics professor specializing in energy and environmental economics, discusses the complexities of electricity market design and its challenges. He explores the integration of renewable energy sources into existing infrastructures and the innovative solutions required for effective distribution. Wolak emphasizes the importance of collaboration between economists and engineers, drawing lessons from past crises while also highlighting unique educational methods, including interactive games, to enhance understanding of energy markets.

Welcome to Carry the Two, the podcast about how math and statistics impact the world around us from the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation. While we’re in between our more in-depth seasons, we like to bring you something a little different in mini-season format. And for this mini season, we are going to highlight some of the amazing researchers who have presented at IMSI over the past year. Our second guest is Maria Chan,a scientist at Argonnne National Laboratory working at the Center for Nanoscale Materials who focuses on computational research involving materials in chemistry using a combination of physics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Maria joined us at IMSI for a workshop on Machine Learning in Electronic Structure Theory where she presented a talk titled Theory-informed AI/ML for Microscopy & Spectroscopy. Host Sam Hansen joined Maria for a talk about the research in her talk and Maria’s time at IMSI.  Find our transcript here: Google Doc or .txt file Curious to learn more? Check out these additional links: Maria Chan IMSI Talk: Theory-informed AI/ML for Microscopy & Spectroscopy Follow more of IMSI’s work: www.IMSI.institute, (twitter) @IMSI_institute, (mastodon) https://sciencemastodon.com/@IMSI, (instagram) IMSI.institute Music by Blue Dot Sessions The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI) is funded by NSF grant DMS-1929348

Welcome to Carry the Two, the podcast about how math and statistics impact the world around us from the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation. While we’re in between our more in-depth seasons, we like to bring you something a little different in mini-season format. And for this mini season, we are going to highlight some of the amazing researchers who have presented at IMSI over the past year. Our first guest is Thibaut Mastrolia, an assistant professor at the Industrial Engineering and Operation Research Department at UC Berkeley Thibaut joined us at IMSI for a workshop on Decision Making and Uncertainty where he presented a talk titled Recent advances in auction markets design and regulation policies. Host Sam Hansen joined Thibaut for a talk about the research in this talk and how Thibaut’s time at IMSI has helped move it forward.  Find our transcript here: Google Doc or .txt file Curious to learn more? Check out these additional links: Thibaut Mastrolia IMSI Talk: Recent advances in auction markets design and regulation policies Follow more of IMSI’s work: www.IMSI.institute, (twitter) @IMSI_institute, (mastodon) https://sciencemastodon.com/@IMSI, (instagram) IMSI.institute Music by Blue Dot Sessions The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI) is funded by NSF grant DMS-1929348

David Dutwin, Senior VP at NORC and Chief Scientist of AmeriSpeak, and Nathaniel Rakich, Senior Editor at FiveThirtyEight, dive into the intricate world of polling and surveys. They discuss the nuances of survey design, the challenges of measuring public opinion, and how polling impacts democracy. The pair highlights the importance of accuracy in data collection and the evolving methodologies that aim to enhance polling reliability. They also tackle the complexities of interpreting polling averages and the significance of exit polls in understanding electoral outcomes.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, an expert in statistics and risk communication, dives into the vital role of trustworthy data in politics. He discusses the impact of white hat bias on evidence interpretation and highlights the UK's efforts in maintaining statistical integrity through the Office for Statistics Regulation. The conversation covers the misuse of statistics in campaigns and how emotions shape our understanding of numbers. David also shares a manifesto for communicating political statistics effectively, urging clarity and accountability in data presentation.

Ranthony Clark, an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Duke University focused on mathematics and social justice, discusses her work identifying communities of interest in Ohio’s redistricting. Jiajie Luo, a recent UCLA PhD graduate, dives into how topological data analysis uncovers polling site coverage gaps in urban areas. The conversation highlights innovative approaches to fair representation and the importance of community engagement, revealing how mathematics can drive democratic accessibility.

Join Andrea Mock, a data scientist at Aura, Gunnar Carlsson, a former Stanford professor, Samin Aref, a university assistant professor, and Zachary Neal, a psychology professor as they explore the intersection of mathematics and political coalitions. They discuss how simplicial complexes can model coalition stability, the nuances of cluster analysis in the U.S. House, and uncover hidden coalitions through bill co-sponsorship data. Their fascinating insights reveal the complex dynamics driving political alliances amidst the current election landscape.

Ismar Volić, a mathematics professor and director of the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy, teams up with Theodore R. Johnson, a scholar of Black electoral politics and Washington Post columnist. They delve into how math shapes apportionment in the U.S. Congress and the historical rivalry between Jefferson and Hamilton over rounding methods. The duo discusses the flaws of the Electoral College, potential reforms for fairer voting, and how statistical techniques could enhance democratic representation. Brace for a blend of humor, history, and enlightening insights!

Ismar Volić, a mathematics professor and director at the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy, along with economics PhD student Victoria Mooers, dive into how math influences voting. They dissect the flaws of the current plurality voting system and propose preference ranking methods to reduce polarization. The conversation also touches on Liquid Democracy and the complications that arise from too much delegation in voting processes. Listen in as they illuminate the vital relationship between mathematics and effective democracy.