Mathematics Colloquium: Variational approaches to statistical learning

Speaker:  Ryan Murray, NC State

Title:  Variational approaches to statistical learning

Abstract :  Traditionally mathematicians have utilized variational methods and partial differential equations to broaden our understanding of problems from physics and engineering. However, recently there has been a growing need for a deeper understanding of statistical learning algorithms that come from data science and machine learning. It turns out that many of the algorithms used in those contexts actually have similar structure to the problems mathematicians studied in the 19th and 20th centuries in the context of physics and engineering. This talk will survey a number of recent advances where tools from the calculus of variations and partial differential equations have been used to provide a deeper understanding of statistical learning algorithms. This talk will not assume specialist knowledge of either statistics or PDE techniques, instead aiming to provide an introduction to the area.

Time:  Friday, April 28, 3:30pm – 4:20pm

Place:  Exploratory Hall, room 4106

Zoom and In-person