21st Annual New Zealand Mathematics and Statistics Conference
Description
The NZMASP conference is a yearly event run for and by postgraduate students in Mathematics and Statistics across all New Zealand universities. The main purpose is to share research and build long-lasting relationships and professional collaborations.
In addition to this Humanitix form, you must also complete this Google Form for abstract submission. You can also find the link for abstract submission in the registration email or on the NZMASP website.
If you are buying tickets on behalf of someone else, please select the "email tickets to participants" option at the buyer information stage of checkout, or forward the tickets to them once checkout is complete.
Plenary Speakers
Professor Sarah Wakes (University of Otago)
Sarah is an applied mathematician and engineer. She was the first non-male head in almost 150 years of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of Otago. She researches and teaches aspects of mathematics, engineering design, fluid dynamics and sustainability. Sarah has a first-class Joint honours degree in Mathematics & Physics and a PhD in Theoretical Mechanics from the University of Nottingham in the UK. Before coming to the University of Otago, she was a research fellow at the University of Hertfordshire. Sarah is an expert in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with a particular focus on applications of flow simulation to engineering design and wind dynamics over complex coastal geomorphology. She has worked with industrial partners such as Fisher & Paykel and PowerhouseWind on using CFD to enhance their design capabilities and understanding. She was also recently part of the MBIE Reimagining Aquaculture project with Plant & Food. Sarah was made a Fellow Of Engineering New Zealand in 2021 in recognition of her contribution to engineering education and research. She is also a chartered engineer through the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
Dr Jurij Volčič (University of Auckland)
Jurij Volčič is a pure mathematician. His research revolves around algebra, analysis, geometry and optimization in several matrix or operator variables, sometimes with a view towards quantum information science. After a PhD from the University of Auckland in 2018, he held postdoctoral and tenure-track positions in Israel, Texas, Denmark and Pennsylvania, before returning as a lecturer to Auckland in 2025.
Dr Bethany Macdonald (University of Canterbury)
Bethany is a lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Canterbury. She completed her PhD at the University of Otago, before taking a postdoctoral position at the same institution. Her research concerns modelling and inference for spatial point patterns. Spatial data arise from a wide range of application areas including ecology, epidemiology, crime research and geoscience. Many tasks which are routine in other areas of statistics are unavailable for spatial point processes, and hence Bethany’s research focuses on filling these gaps. She is particularly interested in parameter estimation methods for clustered models, given that traditional likelihood methods are unavailable. Prior to her PhD, Bethany worked as a statistician for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Queensland, Australia. There she worked with crop breeding programs, designing experiments and modelling data to streamline the breeding of varieties which can withstand the harsh environments throughout Australia.
Talks
All participants are expected to give a 10 - 15 minute oral presentation on a topic related to the fields of mathematics, statistics or data science. There will be monetary prizes for the best talk. Additionally, this year the Te Pūnaha Matatini Research Ingenuity Prize(s) will be awarded to the talk(s) that display creativity in approach or overcoming a challenge within your research project. The award has kindly been gifted by our sponsor Te Pūnaha Matatini. To be eligible for this award, you must present your own research.
Note that your presentation does not have to be about your current research project. You may give a presentation on a topic other than your research area, provided that the content is relevant and appropriate for the audience.
Your final presentation title and abstract must be submitted via the aforementioned Google Form by Sunday, the 11th of October.
Please note that any submission after the deadline will not be included in the conference programme.
Accommodation and Venue
Students will be provided with accommodation at the conference venue, Te Rangihīroa College, on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Check-ins will be available Wednesday 25 November, while check-outs are scheduled for Friday 27 November. Please note that accommodation is NOT provided for Friday night. If you intend to stay for the NZMS colloquium, you must select the ticket "NZMASP Conference + NZMS Accommodation". This ticket does NOT include registration for the NZMS colloquium.
We will provide morning tea, afternoon tea, and lunches. Participants must organise their own dinner, except for the conference dinner on Thursday night, which is included in the ticket price.
Eligibility
Any postgraduate student affiliated with a tertiary institution in New Zealand who works with mathematics, statistics or data science is eligible to register. We will ask for some details of your programme and institution at checkout. We do want to encourage a diverse community of attendees, so please get in touch if you are unsure whether you are eligible.
Transport
You are responsible for booking your own travel to Dunedin.
If you are arriving in Dunedin via plane, there are taxis available or shuttles you can pre-book. The journey from the airport to the venue is 30 minutes, and the shuttle is the affordable option. The Aerolink shuttle has student pricing available.
If you are arriving via InterCity bus, you can disembark at either the bus hub on Moray Place or the University stop, then walk to the conference venue. Walking from either stop is approximately 1km and will take about 15 minutes.
Payment and personal details
We will request some of your details at the checkout when you purchase your ticket for the conference.
We hope everyone has financial support from their supervisor, department or another source in order to attend. Please talk with them before buying your ticket to confirm that they can reimburse you once you provide a receipt for your ticket. If this system will not work for them or if you are not able to find funding to attend, then please get in contact with us. Depending on various factors, we may be able to offer some financial support to cover the registration fee. If you require financial support, please contact us!
We also have funds available to support participants with family responsibilities. You can use the support to purchase flights for children or caregivers, pay for childcare, book additional accommodation, or cover other costs that would help you attend the conference. If you would like to claim this support, please fill in the corresponding question at checkout.
Evening events
We will have welcome drinks at a Dunedin local brewery (Emerson's) on the first night (Wednesday). This is a chance to get to know fellow postgraduates from New Zealand in a more relaxed setting. We invite everyone to come, have a chat, some fries, and maybe a pint.
On the second night, we will have a conference dinner, which is included in the ticket. The conference dinner will also be held at Te Rangihīroa College. After the dinner, we plan to have a social event. Details of this social event to come.
Accessibility and Support
The venue/accommodation is accessible. For details, visit the Te Rangihīroa College website. If you have any specific questions about accessibility, feel free to email us directly at admin@nzmasp.org.nz.
With Thanks To Our Sponsors
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
