Bek McCann
James Cook University
I started my Bachelors degree in 2021 majoring in physics, as there were (and are) relatively few opportunities for mathematics students in my area of North Queensland. However, my favourite thing about physics was always the maths, and so, with the encouragement of my professors, I eventually pivoted to mathematics. I will begin my Mathematical Honours project at James Cook University in 2025, and my research will be in Category Theory (though it also involves a bit of Knot Theory and Graph Theory). In the future, I hope to have a career in mathematical physics research. Outside of university, my interests include reading, crochet, and looking after my pet insects/arachnids.
Can you give me a quick rundown about the type of mathematics you are studying and its potential impacts for the broader community (think how you would explain your work and studies to others who don’t study maths)
The research I’m doing is on a type of category called compact closed categories. In a category, we have a collection of things (called objects), and a collection of connections between the objects (called morphisms). Compact closed categories are interesting because we can represent morphisms as boxes and objects as strings which connect those boxes, in what is called a string diagram. In a previous research project, I showed that every compact closed category describes a functor from a modified version of the graph category to the category of sets – where the image of this functor can be thought of as sets of string diagrams associated with the given compact closed category. My upcoming research will use this result to describe compact closed categories as special types of modular operads and circuit algebras, which are useful concepts in current quantum physics research and technological tools like AI.
How did you get into mathematics/statistics/data science? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?
I’ve always had a talent for mathematics, but I didn’t truly understand the potential of mathematics until my final years of High School, as my Specialist Maths teacher was the first teacher I’d ever had who described mathematics as beautiful. Also of note is my current supervisor, Dr Sophie Raynor, who later encouraged me to pursue my interests in maths and helped teach me that mathematics is about play and patience, not just knowledge and computation.
You received a Travel Grant to attend AMSI Summer School 2025. How important was this in terms of your ability to attend, fully participate in the program and meet others studying in similar fields? Do you think it was an advantage to attend the program in-person?
The Travel Grant was immensely important to my attendance, as I wouldn’t have been able to attend without it. I’m from regional North Queensland, where math opportunities are relatively sparse, so attending in-person was greatly beneficial, but would’ve been impossible for me without the grant. In-person attendance allowed me to meet other students from a wide range of mathematical backgrounds and improved my overall learning experience. It was specifically most useful in the tutorials, where discussion of the lecture content with fellow students and tutorial coordinators was invaluable to the learning process.
What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
The subject I attended (Algebraic Knot Theory, taught by Dr Zsuzsanna Dansco) was in and of itself a fantastic subject, both in content and how it was taught. Additionally, learning and discussing the subject alongside my fellow students made the subject much more engaging and enjoyable.
In the long-term, what do you think are the benefits of having attended Summer School?
It allowed me to make connections with students in my field, which may be useful in the future of my career. It also gave me the experience of living in a city as large as Sydney for the first time, which was a learning process in and of itself that I’m sure will benefit me in the future too.
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, I now have a better understanding of the career options for a new mathematician, especially in the tech and banking industries.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2026? Should they apply and why?
If you find any of the subjects interesting, or think they’re relevant to your studies, and have the means to attend, then I would definitely recommend applying. I would especially recommend it to students in rural/regional areas and/or who are early in their careers, as it’s an invaluable experience for networking and gaining communication skills. To those who attend, I would also recommend sitting in on a few lectures for subjects that you don’t know much about, even if you’re not taking said subjects, as it helps you to see the diversity of mathematics and perhaps find a new topic of interest.
What are your current career ambitions in the mathematical sciences sector?
My current focus is on completing my Honours degree, after which I will likely move to Brisbane or some other large city, where I will get my PhD in mathematics and/or mathematical physics. I currently plan to continue my career in academia.
How did connecting with the community at AMSI Summer School support your experience?
It gave me an opportunity for networking and improving my communication skills, and made learning easier and more enjoyable.
Any other feedback/comments you would like to provide on the AMSI Travel Grant or AMSI Summer School 2025?
I would like to thank the people at AMSI for giving me this opportunity and for organising the summer school.