Abstract: Stokes will review a family of variational algorithms which have been proposed as candidates to make use of near- to intermediate-term quantum computers, placing particular emphasis on geometric and numeric features that are shared by classical variational stochastic approximation algorithms. Stokes will also discuss some applications of this hybrid quantum-classical approach to scientific and engineering problems beyond its traditional domain of application. Speaker(s): James Stokes (Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation)