Mathematical Biology
Supervisor: Sergey Suslov
Description: Traditionally biology belongs to the so-called descriptive sciences where majority of studies are based on phenomenological descriptions. However in recent years classical mathematical concepts made their sure way in this area providing a wide variety of techniques for quantitative predictions of various biological trends and phenomena. The success of mathematicians in the field of biology became so significant that a new science, mathematical biology, has emerged. Using such tools as differential and difference equations, stability methods, fractals, theory of oscillators mathematical biologists have developed accurate quantitative models for predicting spicies population evolution (predator-prey models), socio-biological dynamics (marital interaction models), cell divisions (tumor growth models), bio-chemical processes (inter-cell chemical exchange models) and many others. These and other examples of applying mathematical concepts to realistic life situations will be considered in the course. Specific topics will be chosen by students from a range suggested by the lecturer.
Prerequisites: Mathematical Modelling for Dynamics, working knowledge of LaTeX. Access to Matlab or similar, Maple or Mathematica or similar is desirable.
Main text: Mathematical Biology I: Introduction. J.D. Murray, 3d edition, Springer 2002.
Some potential study topics
| What is Maths? Ron Addie | Attitude and belief Patricia Cretchley | Computer Algebra Ed Patricia Cretchley | Assessment issues Patricia Cretchley |
| Education research? Patricia Cretchley | Bridge gaps Patricia Cretchley | Gender equity Patricia Cretchley | Teaching geometry Patricia Cretchley |
| Math history Patricia Cretchley | Gen Lin Models Peter Dunn | Bayesian stats Paul Fahey | Survey sampling Ashley Plank |
| Maths Methods Tony Roberts | Quantum Computing Tony Roberts | Water waves Tony Roberts | Games theory Tony Roberts |
| Parallel numerics Tony Roberts | Hydro stability Sergey Suslov | Math Biology Sergey Suslov | Banach spaces Oleksiy Yevdokimov |
| Fundamental Maths Education Oleksiy Yevdokimov | Number history Oleksiy Yevdokimov |