Aaron Tonkes
University of Queensland
I am a maths student at the University of Queensland, in particular I am attracted to Geometry and Analysis. This year I am starting my honours thesis in Complex Geometry.
Give me a quick overview of the type of mathematics you are studying, and/or the aims of your research and its potential applications/outcomes
I study an area of maths called Complex Geometry. The idea of complex geometry is to study very nice kinds of geometric spaces. By very nice I mean that if you zoom in close enough to them, they look like a complex Euclidean space, this means that you are able to do complex analysis on them which can tell you geometric or topological information about the object itself. Complex geometry has applications in other fields of Maths for example Differential Geometry, PDE, Algebraic Geometry. It also has some application in theoretical physics.
How did you get into the mathematical sciences? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?
I was quite a mediocre maths student for a long time in school until about grade 10 when I met an impactful teacher. After discovering that maths was somewhat interesting, I engaged quite heavily with maths YouTube (3blue1brown and the like) and eventually this led me to studying maths at university.
You received a grant to attend AMSI Summer School. How important was this in terms of your ability to attend, fully participate in the program and meet others studying in similar fields?
Having the travel grant was extremely important to my attendance, I likely would not have participated if I had to take the classes online since I am very attached to doing maths in person. Moreover, I would not have been able to support myself for a trip like this, so the travel grant played a critical role in my attendance of the summer school.
What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
The lectures were very valuable to me. The material is necessary for me to learn for my research and learning it in a lecture format was very helpful. Also being able to take a course for credit during the holidays is very convenient as it will give me more time throughout the semester.
In the long-term, what do you think are the benefits of having attended Summer School?
Meeting with people from the maths community both from my home university and other universities in Australia. Getting credit before starting my honours year.
Summer School included a special Careers Day program which aims to help give students an idea of the kinds of career paths available to maths graduates in industry and private sector research areas. Do you feel better equipped to explore career options in the mathematical sciences after attending AMSI Summer School?
I found it interesting to speak to people in industry about the specifics of using maths in various areas. The careers day was an excellent opportunity see the different possibilities of a career in maths.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2027? Should they apply and why?
I would say to do it. The range of courses is such that there is probably something for everybody. Meeting people from other universities, and spending more time with those from your home university is very rewarding.
What are your current career ambitions in the mathematical sciences sector?
I hope to continue into research i.e. hopefully do a master’s or PhD after I have finished my honours.
How did connecting with the community at AMSI Summer School support your experience?
Hearing the perspectives of my peers helped me develop insight into the sorts of maths I’m interested in and broaden my horizons. I find speaking to different lecturers and hearing their philosophy to be extremely valuable in developing my perspective of Maths.