In this short clip Sophie Huiberts, a young researcher at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica in Amsterdam, tells us about her work trying to understand why computer algorithms that, in theory, are hopelessly inefficient, perform extraordinary well in practice. She also tells us what got her into this area of research, and about her favourite research experience. The video was produced at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum 2019.

You may also want to read this recent article, which looks at a class of optimisation algorithms that is based on the behaviour of ants. Click here for more interviews with young researchers at the HLF.