In this episode of Open Skies, we chat with Andy Brighouse, a recent MSc Mathematics graduate from The Open University, about the fascinating world of fractals and their applications in mathematics, weather, and climate. We explore the definitions of fractals, their properties, and how they can be used as tools for measurement, interpolation, and prediction. Andy shares his experiences with fractals during his research on tundra lakes and the opportunities he had to explore some of these topics in his MSc degree.
Chapters:
00:00 Getting into Fractals
05:00 Understanding Fractals: Definitions and Examples
11:00 Fractal Dimensions: Measurement and Application
15:50 Fractals in Data Interpolation and Inverse Problems
27:24 What’s next: Fractal Geometry and Dynamical Systems
30:00 Learning Maths is a bit Fractal
We hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of Open Skies!
For all our club contact and joining links:
https://linktr.ee/ouweatherandclimateclub
For Andy’s OpenInterval piece describing his placement on the research bursary scheme:
https://www3.open.ac.uk/documents/8/uh23081159293810.pdf
Student research bursaries:
Student research bursaries | School of Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics Postgraduate OU Cafe:
https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/view.php?id=1379608
Explore Further:
On the fractal properties of drifting trails of smoke:
Fractal Geometry of Isoconcentration Surfaces in a Smoke Plume
Alexander A. Praskovsky, Walter F. Dabberdt, Eleanor A. Praskovskaya, Walter G. Hoydysh, and Oleh Holynskyj
Understanding Julia and Mandelbrot sets:
https://www.karlsims.com/julia.html
Fractal Interpolation in Context: Paper on optimising time series predictions using fractal interpolation:
Fractal interpolation in the context of prediction accuracy optimization
Alexandra Baicoianu, Cristina Gabriela Gavrilă, Cristina Maria Pacurar, Victor Dan Pacurar
Kac, M. (1966) ‘Can One Hear the Shape of a Drum?’, The American mathematical monthly, 73(4), pp. 1-. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2307/2313748.
OU Library access link: https://library-search.open.ac.uk/permalink/44OPN_INST/j6vapu/cdi_crossref_primary_10_2307_2313748
Fractals and Chaos: An illustrated Course
Paul S Addison, 1997
Full text available via the OU Library: https://library-search.open.ac.uk/permalink/44OPN_INST/j6vapu/cdi_informaworld_taylorfrancisbooks_9780849384431
In this episode of Open Skies, we talk to Dr. Evangelos Ntontis, a Lecturer in Social Psychology at The Open University, about climate psychology and its applications. He explains how his background in discourse analysis has helped him explore the framing of climate change
discussions and the importance of considering the environment and societal factors in understanding human behaviour related to climate change.
Dr Ntontis highlights how you can explore these topics further in a new OpenLearn course and the OU module D110: Exploring psychological worlds.
Chapters:
00:00 Introductions
03:29 Discourse Analysis and Qualitative Research Methods
07:00 D110 and the psychology of climate change denialism
8:22 Exploring Climate Psychology: The OpenLearn Module
15:08 Researching stressors as a climate change impact
21:43 The interaction of inequality and climate change impacts
We hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of Open Skies!
For all our club contact and joining links:
https://linktr.ee/ouweatherandclimateclub
Explore Further:
Studying Psychology at The Open University
https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/psychology
D110: Exploring psychological worlds: thinking, feeling, doing
https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/d110
OpenLearn: Introducing Climate Psychology
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/introducing-climate-psychology-facing-the-climate-crisis