How does MISG work?

Professor Phil Howlett

Professor Phil Howlett
Project Coordinator,
MISG 2002

Centre for Industrial and Applicable Mathematics (CIAM)
University of South Australia
Mawson Lakes Campus, 5095

Phone:  (08) 8302 3195      Fax:        (08) 8302 5785    

Email: phil.howlett@unisa.edu.au

Dr Steve Lucas

Dr Steve Lucas
Assistant Project Coordinator,
MISG 2002

Centre for Industrial and Applicable Mathematics (CIAM)
University of South Australia
Mawson Lakes Campus, 5095

Phone:  (08) 8302 3741      Fax:       (08) 8302 5785    

Email: stephen.lucas@unisa.edu.au

 Suitable problems from a wide range of industries are selected by the Director and Project Coordinators. This is done after a large number of companies throughout Australia are contacted initially through the mail-out of our brochure. An extensive follow-up of this initial mail-out is carried out through personal contact and by phone. In many cases individual industries are identified and earmarked for special attention. These are identified on the basis of past involvement and success with previous MISG forums.

Industries and Companies who express initial interest will be visited by the Director and a Project Coordinator to discuss details of the problem. All personnel involved in this work will come with many years of experience in MISG, and with the ability to identify appropriate problems. Later in the year a collection of six to eight problems from a diversity of industries throughout Australia will be finalised. Once the problems are chosen, two project moderators will be selected, for each of them. Project moderators are selected on the basis of their relevant expertise and previous experience at MISG. In the meantime the Project Coordinator will gather information from the Company, as a basis for preliminary work, including an initial literature search.

The workshop runs from Monday to Friday. On Monday the Industry Representatives outline their projects and what they believe needs to be done. Tuesday through to Thursday is a period of intense brainstorming and discussion carried out in separate problem groups. MISG participants join groups to work on whichever problem suits their interest and expertise. On Friday the project moderators summarise the achievements fo the groups.

The Benefits

  • Cost-effective consulting with access to some of the best mathematical minds from Australia and overseas.
  • A new perspective on your problem or project.
  • An outline of the processes required to solve your problem with the potential for further more detailed development.
  • Opportunities for further additional consultation and collaboration after the workshop.
  • Small to medium enterprises can apply for funding assistance .

And The Costs

  • No charge for preliminary discussions with the Director and Project Coordinators.
  • A fee of $4400 (including GST) to present a project at the MISG workshop. This fee covers all work before and during the workshop, a non-technical summary, and some follow-up work culminating in a complete technical report. The fee does not cover travel or accommodation expenses for Industry representatives attending the workshop.