Patrick Spicer

@CoryMSimon Love this! Thanks.

finally got around to learning about moment-generating functions (MGFs) for dealing with probability distributions. the MGF for a random variable is just a flipped, two-sided Laplace transform of its probability density. take a derivative of the MGF and evaluate at zero, voilà, we get a moment of the distribution, explaining the name. web.ma.utexas.edu/users/gordanz/…

This is a cool advance, I'm really interested in AI for (soft) material design, but I also like the photo used as I too have worn a winter coat in my uni lab when the climate control was wonky... Welcome Your New Lab Mate: Artificial Intelligence pratt.duke.edu/news/wang-ai-o…

@michael_nielsen @littmath Too true, reminds me of the inverted pyramid priorities for journalists and scientists writing, maybe the author's 'envelope solution' could kick it off as a hook and readers go further if they need details or to connect their own process? Not all abstracts are written this way.

A colleague once explained the process of writing a paper: > Start with simple-seeming problem > Gradually get into it, understand ever-increasing complexity > Understanding gradually simplifies, until problem solved on back of envelope > Write 40-page paper > Person on other side of world attempts to read paper, totally impenetrable, work very hard > Write down solution on back of envelope His question to me was: "Why don't we just publish the envelope?" And the answer, unfortunately, was: "Everyone needs very different envelopes" (This points at a genuine potential use case for personalized AI)

>buy a new math text >you find it totally impenetrable >makes no sense >work hard, finally get it >it’s all so beautiful and simple >why didn’t they just explain it this way??? >write new text >someone buys it >they find it totally impenetrable

Dolphins in the surf before me at Cronulla today!

Magic hour pupper

Looking forward to some great discussions of sensory science and soft matter!

Despite losing his publisher and struggling with cancer, William T. Vollmann is still writing novels that are brilliant, provocative and very, very long. ...the last untamed writer in America. wsj.com/arts-culture/b…

Totally real background from my university office captured during a video call today

OK Sydney is getting swatted by this weather system at the moment. I'm sitting in the core red spot. Hi!

My boy's sweet but can be judgy, even after a nice walk

Unforeseen benefit of having super Indonesian students is surprise gifts of civet poop coffee!

Best pre-work routine so far...doggo gets a walk, we get our swims, and the residual tension washes away #doglife

Setting out for a circuitous journey to Copenhagen for the European Colloids meeting. See many of you soon!

@BenBoyd_Monash I yielded!

@SoftMatterHackr When you get to the checkout and someone insists on shoving their trolley in front of yours does it result in yield stress?

Shopping with rheologists is fun.

@Gilchrist_Lab @LSalvatiManni Protorheology incoming!

@LSalvatiManni @SoftMatterHackr Got the oobleck supplies there?

BIG BEER on the way!

Great way to start 2024 with some nice complex fluid cameos in these photos!

@DrEOChapman Genius! Time enough at last...

@Vipul_syd @CristmasInParis @baldycheva @StemmGlobal Nice talk, but nice outfit too. Enjoy!

Concluding the year with the last invited talk @CristmasInParis sharing our work on polymer nanocomposite design and synthesis to manoeuvre filler arrangement in fabricated coatings. Thanks @baldycheva for the invitation and organising such a wonderful conference. @StemmGlobal