Abstract

We all know about examples of mathematicians misbehaving in finance, and even being jailed as a result: Tom Hayes, Ke Xu, and Sam Bankman-Fried are some examples. But more subtle are the modelling tools mathematicians produce. Mathematical modelling is ubiquitous in understanding the way the world works, from finance to physics to climate patterns. Understanding how to develop and use a model, as well as its limitations, and the way it interacts with the world, is indispensable in preventing it from causing harm. Unfortunately, as we saw in the financial crash of 2007, such models are sometimes poorly understood, with devastating consequences.

This talk is part 2 of the seminar series Ethics in Mathematics hosted by the Cambridge University Ethics in Mathematics Society over Michaelmas. The event will consist of an interactive lecture followed by a relaxed discussion session over some pizza.