Nicholas Laity
Adelaide University
Nick is a student currently studying a Masters of Research in Mathematics at Adelaide University, and has completed a Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences (Pure Mathematics) at the University of Adelaide in 2025. Their interests include complex problem solving, coding, and logic-driven board and video games. They have participated in various coding-related events, including Advent of Code and various video game modding competitions. In the first year and a half of their tertiary studies, they were undertaking an Advanced Bachelor of Science degree in High Performance Computational Physics but ultimately found that they preferred pure mathematics as a learning focus. They still enjoyed both, though.
Beyond the world of maths, Nick appreciates travelling to new destinations and having new experiences. They appreciate the
quirkiness of language, and have attempted creating their own conlang!
They also believe that all people should choose kindness in life.
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’m a passionate pure mathematics student who is fortunate enough to begin their Masters in 2026. The area of research will be geometric realisations of real cohomology classes. This project will generalise important constructions in the theory of geometric quantisation and relate them to objects in higher geometry.
How did you get into the mathematical sciences? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?
Honestly, I’ve been interested in maths as long as I can remember – if I were to choose one source of inspiration though, it would be the Murderous Maths series! I would highly recommend any kids with even a passing interest in maths to give them a read.
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?
Because I do not live in Melbourne, this travel grant gave me the financial ability to attend the AMSI Summer School in-person. It was absolutely an advantage to attend in-person, as I was able to meet and discuss with people I never would have had the opportunity to otherwise!
What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
I think the most valuable part of the program was the courses, as it allowed me to get somewhat of a head-start on my Masters research! Both in terms of literal course credit, and to get more familiar with more advanced topics in and adjacent to my particular field of study.
In the long-term, what do you think are the benefits of having attended Summer School?
It made me familiar with being away from home for a maths-related event, which is something that I hope I will be able to do even more in future.
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?
Yes, somewhat! A lot of the companies present at Careers Day seemed to be much more focused on applied maths or data science than pure maths, but it was still a useful experience!
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2027? Should they apply and why?
One piece of advice that I would give is speak to your teachers at university – they can then support you to attend and you may even be able to count a course from the summer school towards your degree!
You should absolutely apply.
What are your current career ambitions in the mathematical sciences sector?
I’m still learning how I would like to apply my mathematical studies in the longer term – one option is definitely academia, but I am still learning about careers outside of that space that align with my values.
How did connecting with the community at AMSI Summer School support your experience?
Coming from interstate, there was essentially nobody there that I knew beforehand – the community made me feel welcome, and allowed me to easily settle in to the rhythm of going to lectures and workshops as a part of the summer school.
Any other feedback/comments you would like to provide on the AMSI Travel Grant or AMSI Summer School 2026?
Nope! This was an amazing experience, thank you for supporting me for it!