Sneddon Lecture - So many dynamoS: The interaction of large and small
How do stars and planets generate their magnetic fields? Join Professor Steve Tobias for the 2026 Sneddon Lecture as he explores the “dynamo” processes connecting vast planetary flows with turbulence at the smallest scales. The equations are known, but astrophysical conditions remain far beyond even today’s most powerful computers—making ingenious mathematics essential. Join us on Friday 23 October 2026, 4pm with a wine reception to follow at 5pm.
Distinguished Lecture Series in Mathematics and Statistics
Date: Friday 23 October 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Venue: LT 116 Maths & Stats
Category: Public lectures, Social events, Academic events, Student events, Alumni events, Staff workshops and seminars, Community events
Speaker: Professor Steve Tobias
Sneddon Lecture 2026
So many dynamoS: The interaction of large and small
Professor Steve Tobias
Tait Chair of Mathematical Physics at the University of Edinburgh
Attendance is free, but advance registration is required:
https://sneddon-lecture-2026.eventbrite.co.uk
How are magnetic fields generated inside stars and planets—and why is explaining them such a formidable mathematical challenge?
The 2026 Sneddon Lecture will be delivered by Professor Steve Tobias, Tait Chair of Mathematical Physics at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Tobias will explore the dynamo processes that generate magnetic fields in astrophysical and geophysical bodies, from planets such as Earth to distant stars.
Although the governing equations are known, the extreme conditions and enormous range of scales involved lie beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful computational methods. Mathematical theory therefore has a vital role to play. The challenge is to understand how large-scale flows and magnetic fields interact with small-scale turbulence—and to develop a tractable statistical description of this complex behaviour.
Combining fundamental mathematics with questions about the physical universe, the lecture will review what is currently known about magnetic-field generation and consider what a successful mathematical theory must ultimately explain.
Professor Tobias has worked extensively on nonlinear dynamo theory and the mathematics of geophysical and astrophysical fluids. Before joining the University of Edinburgh in 2025, he spent 25 years at the University of Leeds, where he founded the Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the UK Academy of Mathematical Sciences.
The lecture will take place at 4pm on Friday 23 October 2026 in Lecture Room 116 of the Mathematics and Statistics Building at the University of Glasgow. A wine reception will follow at 5pm.