Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science

Celebrating a decade of research excellence in maths and data science

This year marks a decade since the establishment of the Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science (CRMDS). Over the past ten years, the Centre has grown to include 18 dedicated academics working across the fields of pure mathematics and data science.

With a commitment to high-quality, impactful research, CRMDS has achieved a number of significant milestones over the past decade, including:

• Securing over $2.5 million in research funding: Hosting two prestigious ARC Future Fellows and leading seven ARC Discovery projects and ARC LIEF, the Centre has attracted substantial national and international funding, positioning itself as a leader in research excellence.
• Cultivated global talent: CRMDS graduates, such as Sangeeta Bhatia (Imperial College) and Fabian Weigend (Harvard University), are making significant global impacts, reflecting the Centre’s commitment to nurturing world-class researchers.
• Publishing high-impact research: Highlighted by James East’s work in Memoirs of the American Mathematical Society, CRMDS researchers are pushing the boundaries of mathematical understanding.
• Hosting international conferences: From the Asian-Australian Algebra Conference to plenary talks at the Australian Mathematical Society, CRMDS has established itself as a key player in the global academic community.
• Home to several initiatives, such as RoboCup and MINDS (Medical Intelligence Data Science Hub)
• Pioneered award-winning innovations: With projects like SiMPACT, CRMDS is at the forefront of innovation in IoT and climate technology, earning recognition across multiple industries.

Looking forward, CRMDS is poised to continue its collaborative work across the University, contributing expertise in fields ranging from assisted living and robotics to sustainable horticulture and AI standards.

As we celebrate this milestone, we invite everyone to join us in supporting CRMDS’s vision for the future—a future where high-quality research continues to drive real-world impact.

Congratulations to the entire CRMDS team on this remarkable achievement!

2024  WSU > Harvard

CRMDS is very pleased that Oliver Obst’s former PhD student Fabian Weigend just accepted a post doc position at Harvard, in a robotics lab that researches medical devices to assist humans in their lives.

Fabian’s research at WSU was about performance modals of athletes, in the intersection between Data Science and Sport sciences, and so he was based in the school of health sciences and the Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science. His co-supervisor was Jason Siegler (SoHS/ASU).

After finishing with us, he went to Arizona State Uni for a first postdoc (in the robotics lab of my former student Heni Ben Amor).

2022/2023 Smart Irrigation Management for Parks and Cool Towns

Assoc Prof Oliver Obst (pictured) was one of the Chief Investigators of SiMPACT (Smart Irrigation Management for Parks and Cool Towns, https://www.simpact-australia.com/, which was part of a significant, interdisciplinary collaboration with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority and other organisations including Sydney Water, Eratos, Monash, and UTS. The aim of SiMPACT was to utilise AI and machine learning to optimally use green spaces for urban cooling. The  project was funded with approximately $5M in total, of which $2.4M was allocated to Western.

• SiMPACT received many awards, among them
• Winner, national IoT awards (Research Award 2023)
• Winner, national IoT awards (IoT for Good award 2023)
• Winner, InnovationAus 2023 Awards for excellence, GovTech Project, Product, or Service; People’s choice
• Winner, Banksia Foundation, NSW Climate Technology Impact Award

The Asia-Australia Algebra Conference 2019

Western Sydney University Parramatta City Campus, 21-25 January 2019

The Asia-Australia Algebra Conference was held at Western Sydney University, on the 21st to 25th in January  2019. It brought together world experts in a wide range of topics related to algebra. The objective of the conference was to promote collaboration between working algebraists.

Maths In Action 2018

In June 2018 the School of Computing Engineering and Mathematics and the Centre for Research in Mathematics provided a day of Maths in Action to High School students in the Western Sydney Region. This is a yearly event to promote the study of Mathematics at Western Sydney University. Our mathematicians and data scientists are absolutely committed to carrying the message to our future mathematicians that maths is fun and also a lucrative career option.

Below are videos taken on the day.

Mathematics - Unlocking your Career Options

Maths at Western Sydney