19 November: Niall Jeffrey

Speaker: Niall Jeffrey (UCL)

Date: Wednesday 19 November 2025

Time: 15:00

Location: Physics 3.21

Decoding dark energy: simulation-based inference with weak gravitational lensing

The nature of dark energy is encoded in the cosmic web of dark matter in the Universe. Using new AI techniques, we can unlock this. I will present the latest results from the Dark Energy Survey which use the gravitational lensing effect to create maps of dark matter, from which we can learn about dark energy. I will also contrast our approach with common perceptions of AI, showing that we employ robust scientific methods that require the development of new techniques – this set of techniques is known as "simulation-based inference" – many of which are still being developed to ensure scientific results that can be more reliable than classical approaches. Looking forward, I will explore the challenges that lie ahead in the era of the Euclid space mission.