The Bernoulli Center for Fundamental Studies had the pleasure of organising the 2025 Assyr Abdulle Lecture, a public event held in memory of Prof. Assyr Abdulle, former EPFL faculty member at the Mathematics Institute (2009–2021).
Prof. Abdulle was a world-leading expert in numerical methods for stochastic differential equations and multiscale problems. Beyond his outstanding research contributions, he was deeply committed to promoting mathematics at EPFL and inspiring the next generation of scientists, notably through the Youth@Bernoulli program. This annual lecture series honors his legacy and celebrates excellence in mathematical research.
This year, we were delighted to welcome Prof. Alessio Figalli from ETH Zürich as the distinguished speaker. On August 1, 2018, Prof. Figalli was awarded the Fields Medal for his groundbreaking contributions to the theory of Optimal Transport and its applications to partial differential equations, metric geometry, and probability.
His lecture, entitled “Optimal Transport: From A to B… and Beyond,” offered the audience an inspiring journey through one of mathematics’ most elegant and powerful frameworks. Starting from Gaspard Monge’s 18th-century question — “What is the most efficient way to move something from A to B?” — Prof. Figalli explored how optimal transport has evolved into a versatile tool with applications ranging from economics and data science to the natural sciences.
The event drew a large and enthusiastic audience, filling the lecture hall and sparking lively discussions afterward. Participants were particularly engaged by Prof. Figalli’s clear and insightful presentation, which made complex ideas accessible and highlighted the far-reaching impact of mathematical research.
The Bernoulli Center warmly thanks Prof. Figalli for his outstanding talk and all attendees for making this edition of the Assyr Abdulle Lecture such a vibrant and memorable occasion.