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AMSI scholarship recipient profile:Eunice Blessica Yuwono

Eunice Blessica Yuwono

University of Adelaide

Eunice received her Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences (Advanced) from the University of Adelaide in 2021. She then continued her studies in the same university by doing Masters (by Research), supervised by Prof. Yvonne Stokes, Prof. Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem and Dr. Hayden Tronnolone. Her research is about mathematical modelling of temperature in fibre fabrication. During her Bachelors, she received AMSI Vacation Research Scholarship 2020, where she did her research in Mathematical Biology. She then received Adelaide Summer Research Scholarship 2021, where explored and modelled heat flow around Adelaide.

Can you give me a quick overview of the type of mathematics you are studying and its potential impacts for the broader community ?

My research topics vary quite a bit in terms of real-life applications, from mathematically modelling protein production in mathematical biology, to heat flow around Adelaide in architecture, and my current research is in modelling temperature in fibre fabrication that intersects with physics. However, it all goes under Dynamics, Modelling and Computational Group in Applied Mathematics. Basically, it models real-life problems mathematically using differential equations and solves it numerically by coding. For my current research, one of the impacts is to hopefully reduce the time and hence cost in the experimentation to produce fibres.

How did you get into mathematics/statistics/data science? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?

My mother introduced me to mathematics when I was a toddler and I have loved mathematics since then.

You received a scholarship to attend AMSI Summer School 2022. How important was this in terms of your ability to attend, fully participate in the program and meet others studying in similar fields?

The scholarship to attend AMSI Summer School 2022 has helped me to attend and motivated me fully participate in the program.

The purpose of Summer School is to give students an opportunity to develop their mathematical skills, meet like-minded people and network with potential employers. What was the most valuable part of the program for you? Was it the course content or the people you met? Do you have new ideas for your work/research or see it in a new light?

The most valuable part for me would be developing my mathematical skills. Doing the Summer School course gives me a new perspective of my research and how my research can be used in different real-life problems.

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. Were you previously aware of the types of industry opportunities available to mathematical science graduates? Would you consider working with industry? Do you feel better equipped to explore career options in the mathematical sciences after attending AMSI Summer School?

Yes, I was previously aware of the types of industry opportunities available to math graduates. However, the Careers Day program has allowed me to look in detail the opportunities available as well as the daily life of a mathematician in the industry. It also taught me how to explore career options in mathematical sciences. Working in industry is definitely an option for me after my studies.

AMSI Summer School was held as a virtual event. What was the biggest positive from your point of view holding it in this format and/or the biggest challenge?

The biggest positive is the flexibility to do the online school from wherever I am, and I do not need to travel to attend AMSI Summer School. The biggest challenge would be not being able to meet the lecturers and peers face-to-face. I am not used to network and socialize virtually and hence it was a challenge for me.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2023? Should they apply and why?

You will learn a lot from Summer School, so be prepared to study, expand your knowledge and meet new people!

Where do you want the mathematical sciences to take you? Where do you see yourself in five, ten years time?

I would love that mathematical sciences take me to a discipline or area that I have never thought of before. Honestly, I do not know where I will be in five year’s time, but probably I have finished my master’s degree, discovered new areas to use mathematics in, and explored a lot more!

Any other comments you would like to provide?

AMSI Summer School 2022 was great! Despite the challenges of holding the event virtually, it is very informative and has helped me broaden my knowledge.