We are starting a new lunch series at the Mathematical Institute to explore how AI tools—and in particular Large Language Models (LLMs)—can support our academic work. The sessions are open to staff, postdocs, and PhD students.
The goal is simple: to learn from each other. AI is evolving quickly, and the best way to keep up is by sharing practical experiences. Even small tips can make a big difference in research, teaching, and administration.
Each lunch will focus on a concrete theme, such as:
- Writing and literature review with AI
- Coding support and workflow integration (e.g. Cursor, Copilot)
- Managing hallucinations and verifying outputs
- Creating teaching materials and problem sets
- Proof assistants and automated theorem verification
We also plan occasional guest contributions, especially from colleagues working on proof verification, formal methods, and other areas where AI intersects directly with mathematics.
When?
Biweekly, Thursdays over lunch (12:00-13:00). See the detailed schedule below.
Registration: Everyone is very welcome to attend, however, if you wish to have lunch provided you need to register once, by emailing both organizers (if you then decide to stop attending please let us know, so we can save our catering funds for later).
| Date | Location | Topic | Chair |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 October 2025 | BW.2.18a | Current research capabilities of LLMs | David Holmes |
| 16 October 2025 | BW.2.18a | AI in Education at Leiden University | Julian van der Kraats |
| 30 October 2025 | BW.2.18a | Using LLMs in writing papers | Emre Sertöz |
| 13 November 2025 | BW.2.18a | AI in math papers: a case study | Jonathan Love |
| 27 November 2025 | BW.2.18a | Formalising Monsky’s Theorem | Dhyan Aranha |
| 11 December 2025 | BW.2.18a | AI in Education | Ella Akin |
Organisers
David Holmes & Emre Can Sertöz
Funding
Funding is provided by MI through the SAILS-program.
Emre Sertöz 