When you picture a mathematician at work, you might imagine someone who spends time alone searching for a breakthrough that will finally complete an elegant theory.
But when Defence needs quick answers to guide real-world decision-making, Patrick Hew uses his maths skills to cut through uncertainty.
Working in close collaboration with Australian Defence Force colleagues, he applies shortcut mathematical tools to turn limited data into practical insights.
This approach is a key part of operations analysis - a scientific discipline that compares options, determines possible outcomes and provides evidence to inform decisions about military capabilities and priorities.
"The mathematics I use is more useful in the early parts of a problem, when we want to get a rapid insight or we want to see if we can save work," Dr Hew said.
"We use that to refine what the questions are before we invest heavily in modelling and simulation or experiments."
For example, relatively simple calculations can give a quick approximation of the number of aircraft needed to maintain a combat air patrol that provides continuous coverage at a distance from a base.
Dr Hew is a highly experienced mathematician who has worked at Defence Science and Technology Group for more than 25 years. His team enables Defence to focus on what really matters by breaking down complex problems into clear, actionable information.
"We are fundamentally driven by understanding where the ADF client is and where they need to be," he said.
"We seek to understand what issues they're facing and then work out how we can apply maths to those problems."
'It's in our interest to have as many people as we can understanding STEM as much as they can.'
An important part of Dr Hew's job is keeping up with the latest advances in maths and finding ways to apply new techniques. This often includes making use of the published work of Australian mathematicians who have made notable contributions to the field.
While pleased to see these individuals doing world-class maths, Dr Hew said he is passionate about the idea that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is for everyone.
"We quite rightly celebrate those who make the big advances," he said.
"But it's in our interest to have as many people as we can understanding STEM as much as they can, because it makes us better equipped to understand the world."
The theme for this year's National Science Week is 'Seeds of Science: Nurturing knowledge for all', which highlights the importance of encouraging the growth of scientific knowledge across the community.
Dr Hew visited his local primary school in Western Australia to celebrate a previous National Science Week. He captured the imagination of the students by showing them how a thermal-imaging camera works.
By helping young people see STEM as exciting and useful, and as something that everyone can engage with, Dr Hew said he hopes to inspire the next generation to develop skills they too can use to tackle real-world challenges.
