The idea for the symposium took shape from conversations between Will and Aram, who first met at conferences and quickly discovered overlapping research interests in statistical mechanics. “We realised we were asking similar kinds of questions, just from slightly different directions,” Will recalls. Statistical mechanics, which studies the collective behaviour of particle systems, describes many of the complex phenomena we see in the world around us, and its development over the last century has uncovered rich and fundamental mathematical structures. “It made sense to bring people like us together — people who shared common ground but used different tools, methods, or perspectives,” Will says.

Aram adds, “We thought, why not create an event where young researchers can have an inviting environment and the confidence to ask questions, to fill in the details they might have missed, without feeling intimidated?” For both of them, there was an clear need to bridge the gap between probabilistic and algebraic perspectives and to create a space where those approaches could meet in a meaningful way.

Not long after, they invited Yuyang — then in the first year of her PhD, with research interests spanning integrable systems, symmetric functions, and combinatorics — to join the team. Her enthusiasm and fresh perspective complemented Will and Aram’s more advanced stages of their PhDs. “It was great to have Yuyang involved,” they say. “She brought a lot of energy and good ideas, and it helped ensure the symposium would truly speak to research students at different stages of their journey.”

Challenging Moments
They began planning in earnest, drawing on their shared motivation to foster open discussion and community spirit. As first-time organisers, they quickly learned how to balance creative vision with practical logistics — from refining their symposium proposal to selecting speakers who could spark conversation across subfields.

“Being a first-time organiser was a little daunting, but having the support of MATRIX’s staff made a huge difference,” Aram says. Will adds, “We had a lot of enthusiasm, which is a good problem to have. But we also had a strict limit of 25 participants — one of the tougher decisions to make. We wanted to include PhD students from across Australian universities and at all stages.”

Drafting the expression of interest also helped shape their approach. “It’s not just a form you submit — it becomes your guiding document,” Yuyang explains. “We kept referring back to it to make sure the symposium stayed true to our original goals.” Will echoes this sentiment: “One thing that guided us throughout was sticking to our original idea — allowing plenty of time for discussion and not crowding the program with too many talks, so the format was the key!” Aram adds, “Having a clear and simple vision that you can return to makes the process much easier. It’s what keeps you on track.”

Highlights and Impacts
The symposium featured a dynamic program of student presentations alongside featured talks and masterclass lectures from invited senior researchers, complemented by generous time for informal collaboration — a hallmark of the MATRIX experience. For Will and Aram, one of the most rewarding outcomes was seeing participants truly open up: asking questions, debating ideas, and staying late to continue working together on the whiteboards. “You could really see the value of the residential setting,” Aram reflects. “Having everyone in one place, with as much collaboration time as possible, allowed ideas to evolve naturally and lead to in-depth discussions.” Will adds, “Some of us had been to conferences or workshops before, but for many participants, this was their first time experiencing anything like this.”

Masterclass lectures by A/Prof Tim Garoni and A/Prof Michael Wheeler were standout moments, setting the tone for lively discussions that carried through the week. Another highlight was Dr Madeline Nurcombe’s talk on ghost algebras and diagram structures, which left a strong impression on Yuyang. “Coming from a statistics background, I found her approach fascinating — abstract yet full of concrete examples. It really sparked my interest in the algebraic side of the field,” she says.

What They Took Away
Beyond the scientific discussions, the organisers say the process itself was a valuable and rewarding learning experience. “You don’t often get to collaborate like this as PhD students — where you’re managing, planning, and making collective decisions,” Aram reflects. “Having the opportunity to do this in the first place was outstanding. We’re building our own professional relationships in these early stages, and hopefully still collaborating in twenty years’ time.” Will agrees. “We all supported each other, and MATRIX made everything so much easier. We could focus on the scientific side without worrying about logistics.”

For Yuyang, taking part so early in her PhD offered both growth and perspective. “It was a great opportunity for me to build connections as an early-stage PhD student and to gain insights into the different stages of the PhD journey,” she says. “Even though I had been doing research, seeing how other people actually work together — how they discuss, question, and build ideas — was incredibly helpful. It reassured me that I’m on the right path, because there’s a whole community out there.”

Their Wish to MATRIX on Its 10th Anniversary
“We’re really lucky to have something like MATRIX in Australia. It plays a huge role in supporting young researchers and building connections that last beyond any single event. Everyone has a role to play in the community — contributing in their own way to help it thrive. We hope it continues to flourish for many years to come.”