Events

His Magnificence Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, Prof. Dr Hab. Marek Pawełczyk invites you to a lecture, which will be delivered by Prof. Martin Grötschel from Technische Universität Berlin “Math-Projects with Industry: My experiences” The lecture will take place on 24.03.2026 at 12:00 in the Centre of New Technologies in Lecture Hall A.

Abstract:
Mathematics is not only one of the greatest achievements of the human mind, but also a component of the production process comparable to the classical components of earth, labour, and capital. The benefits that technology, the economy, and society derive from mathematical achievement are rarely visible to the public, and even rarely attract its attention. Mathematics has its uses, too. The topic of my lecture will be the interplay of theory and practice and their mutual influence on each other.

I will present the experience gained in the industrial projects in which I have participated. These included applications in telecommunications, pipeline networks and VLSI design, public transport, logistics, healthcare, physics, and manufacturing. I will present these applications, the mathematical methods used to solve them (mainly optimization, convexity, geometry, numerical analysis, and combinatorics), discuss the contribution of these applications to the development of theory, and examine how theory affects real-world practice.

Prof. Martin Grötschel is an outstanding authority in the field of discrete optimization and a wide range of applications of mathematics implemented in industry. He is a laureate of many prestigious world awards and scientific distinctions, doctor honoris causa of a number of universities. He performs many prestigious functions: President of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Secretary General of the IMU - International Mathematical Union, Secretary General of the DMV - German Mathematical Society, Chairman of the Board of the Einstein Foundation in Berlin, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the DFG Research Centre "Matheon" - Mathematics for Key Technologies.

photo: Wikipedia