Discrete Optimization: A Workshop on Applications in Transport, Logistics, and Networks (DO10) was held at UNSW from 12-15 October 2010. 90 people attended the workshop.

DO10 was organised by MASCOS, the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems, in conjunction with an international consortium of Mathematical Research Centres of Excellence from Canada, Chile, and Germany (MITACS, CMM, and MATHEON).

DO10 was generously sponsored by the University of New South Wales, the UNSW School of Mathematics and Statistics, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, and the NSW Government’s Department of Industry and Investment.

This workshop was the third in the series of such collaborative meetings; previous workshops were on ‘Rock Mechanics and Planning in Mining’ in Santiago, Chile, 2007, and in 2006 at Banff International Research Station on ‘Natural Resources and Mathematical Economics’.

The purpose of the workshop was to bring together academic researchers, industry researchers and industry leaders to discuss the most recent developments in discrete optimization in these areas and also to promote regional and international mathematical exchange and collaboration. The focussed workshop was a resounding success, and attracted 25 very high quality speakers from Australia (11), Germany (9), Chile (3), and Canada (2). Of these 25, five speakers were drawn from commercial and government organisations, and many more from these organisations participated in the workshop.

The workshop was opened by the Mr Gary Ferris, the Director of Industry and Investment, NSW, Prof. Tony Guttmann, the Director of MASCOS, and Prof. Tony Dooley, the Head of UNSW’s School of Mathematics and Statistics. Prof. Dr. Martin Groetschel gave a stellar opening talk on “Online problems and logistics”. Each day was themed: “Applications in Logistics and Networks”, “Applications in Mining and Supply Chains”, “Applications in Transport”, “Modelling and Solver Software”. The mornings consisted of talks, while the afternoons saw the academic and industry participants engage in round-table discussions for the day’s theme.

For further information, please see the Discrete Optimization workshop website.

Photo above: Martin Groetschel (former Director of Matheon, Germany)