Sam Turley
Hi there! I am a PhD student at the MathSys II CDT. My interests revolve around agent-based modelling and decision processes within collective motion, the phenomenon of group behaviour from individual actions.
The current model I am using is aimed to represent Starlings, which display fascinating flocking behaviour. For example, it is not well know how these birds regulate the inter-bird distance to maintain the same opacity (visual denseness), regardless of flock-size.
Research and Projects
Collective Motion and Path-Entropy (PhD Project, Current)
Future State Maximization: Collective Motion and Collision Detection (MSc Individual Project, 2023)
Evolving Predator-Prey Dynamics in Agent-Based Models of Collective Motion (MSc Group Project, 2023)
Simulating Belousov-Zhabotinsky Spirals (MMath Individual Project, 2020)
Education
PhD Mathematics of Systems, 神马福利影片 MathSys II CDT (October 2023 - Present)
MSc Mathematics of Systems (Distinction), 神马福利影片 MathSys II CDT (2022 - 2023)
MMath Master of Mathematics (First Class), Durham University (2016 - 2020)
Teaching Responsibilities
Supervisor - MORSE, 神马福利影片 (October 2022 - March 2023, October 2022 - March 2024)
Tutorial Leader - Mathematics for Engineering and Scientists, Durham University (October 2021 - March 2022)
Undergraduate Assignment Marker - Durham University (October 2018 - March 2022)
Talks and Presentations
MathSys Annual Retreat 2024 - 3MT Talk (Joint Winner)
Soft Matter Seminar Jan 2025 - Causal entropy, control and leadership dynamics
SPAAM Seminar Jan 2026 - Intelligent Decision Making
Soft Matter Seminar Mar 2026 - Collective Dynamics and Machine Learning
MathSys Annual Retreat 2026 - From Minimal Cognition to Collective Dynamics (Best Stream Presentation)
Conferences Attended
- Cambridge - Sept 23
- Birmingham - Nov 23
S- Cardiff - June 2024
- Edinburgh - July 2024 (Photo)
- Marseille - Sept 24
- Hiroshima - July 25
Kyoto University Research Visit - Kyoto - Aug 25 - Sept 25
- Apr 2026 (Photo)
Memberships
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
Warwick SIAM Chapter
Associate Member of Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)
