Beautiful mathematics for artificial intelligence

3 questions for Enrique Zuazua

Enrique Zuazua has been awarded his third ERC Advanced Grant. He intends to use the funding to further develop the mathematical foundations of machine learning.

Prof. Zuazua, what are you currently researching?

I am currently investigating the mathematical tools of control theory and cybernetics. Since coming to Erlangen four years ago, my interests have increasingly shifted towards machine learning as FAU conducts a great deal of research in this field. I want to find out how mathematics can contribute to mastering the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

Why are you interested in this topic?

Applied mathematics is my specialty, and I have been involved in projects in the aviation sector and in the management of natural resources, and I have modeled energy networks. Personal preferences certainly play a role, but it also depends to a certain degree on intuition, a feeling as to where one can make a relevant contribution. I am convinced that we need to develop meaningful and beautiful mathematics at the interface between control and machine learning.

Which opportunities does the ERC Advanced Grant offer?

The Grant provides resources that enable us to attract talented young researchers to Erlangen and to set up a highly-skilled team. The very fact that the ERC thinks our research deserves support is a great source of motivation for us.

Enrique Zuazua studied mathematics at the University of the Basque Country, Spain, where he also gained his doctoral degree before gaining a second doctoral degree in Paris. After working as a professor in Madrid, he has held an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Dynamics, Control, Machine Learning and Numerics at FAU since 2019 and is Spokesperson for the Research Center for Mathematics of Data (MoD) at FAU. Zuazua was awarded an ERC Advanced Grant in 2010 and 2016 and is thus one of only a handful of researchers to have been awarded this funding three times.

This article is part of the FAU Magazin

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