Mathematical Sciences: Special Year in Mathematical Biology

研究人员Othmer和他的同事们在犹他大学数学系举办了一个特殊的数学生物学年。合作部门包括生物、生物工程和人类遗传学系以及诺拉·埃克尔斯·哈里森心血管研究和培训研究所。这一特别年的主要目标是培养研究生和博士后在应用于生物问题的建模艺术和科学方面的知识。每个季度的重点是生物学的一个特定领域，其中数学产生了重大影响，并有重大的新机会：生态学和进化论(1995年秋)，生理学和细胞生物学(1996年冬)，以及心血管生理学和生物流体动力学(1996年春)。该教育计划包括(I)由来访的主要讲师讲授一年一次的题为《生物学中的数学建模》的课程，他们介绍在其专业领域内将数学建模应用于生物学问题的案例研究；(Ii)由主要讲师、其他来访者和犹他大学的科学家每周举办一系列研讨会；(Iii)在该地区范围内的活跃研究领域每季度举行一次小型研讨会；以及(Iv)学生/博士后研讨会，旨在非正式地介绍想法、新结果和未解决的问题。本课程的讲稿将会出版。犹他大学数学生物学特别年的目标是培训年轻的科学家对生物问题进行数学建模。研究生和博士后沉浸在跨学科的教育和协作环境中，将他们与领先的数学家和科学家聚集在一起。虽然数学长期以来为生物过程提供了重要的见解，但生物学和数学的发展使这种联系变得更加重要。基础生物学研究与卫生保健和环境保护等国家优先事项的相关性越来越大，强大的新实验技术使观察生理学、遗传学和生态学中以前无法获得的机制成为可能。对强大计算机的广泛使用使研究人员能够模拟复杂而真实的生态和生理系统模型，将建模和计算确立为生命科学中一种新的实验模式。不幸的是，大多数生物学家和数学家的培训未能使他们为这类研究做好准备。数学生物学特别年为年轻的博士后和初级博士后水平的研究人员做好准备，以满足这些新的需求。被邀请参加这个特别年的演讲者和研究人员已经创造了与数学家和生命科学家成功合作的记录。该计划专注于生命科学的三个活跃研究领域：生态学和进化论、生理学和细胞生物学以及心血管生理学和生物流体动力学。过去，这些领域一直是成功协作和建模的沃土。特别年向年轻研究人员介绍了这些成功，让他们参与当前的研究，并说明了不同领域之间的概念联系。这些学生，以及那些从特别年编写的这本书中受益的人，将成为进一步发展这一重要联系的催化剂。

Othmer The investigator and his colleagues conduct a special year in mathematical biology in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Utah. Cooperating departments include the Departments of Biology, Bioengineering and Human Genetics and the Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute. The primary objective of the special year is to train graduate students and post-docs in the art and science of modeling applied to biological problems. Each quarter focuses on a specific area of biology in which mathematics has had a significant impact and in which there are significant new opportunities: Ecology and Evolution (Fall 1995), Physiology and Cell Biology (Winter 1996), and Cardiovascular Physiology and Biological Fluid Dynamics (Spring 1996). The educational program includes (i) a full year course entitled `Mathematical Modeling in Biology' given by visiting principal lecturers, who present a case study of applying mathematical modeling to a biological problem in their area of expertise, (ii) a weekly seminar series given by principal lecturers, other visitors, and scientists from the University of Utah, (iii) a quarterly minisymposium in an active research area within the purview of that quarter, and (iv) a student/post-doc seminar aimed at informal presentation of ideas, new results, and open problems. The notes from the course will be published. The goal of the Special Year in Mathematical Biology at the University of Utah is to train young scientists in mathematical modeling of biological problems. Graduate students and post-docs are immersed in an interdisciplinary educational and collaborative environment that brings them together with leading mathematicians and scientists. Although mathematics has long provided important insights into biological processes, developments in biology and mathematics have made the link more important. Basic biological research has increasing relevance to national priorities such as health care and environmental protection, and powerful new experimental techniques have made it possible to observe previously inaccessible mechanisms in physiology, genetics, and ecology. Expanded access to powerful computers has enabled researchers to simulate complex and realistic models of ecological and physiological systems, establishing modeling and computation as a new mode of experimentation in the life sciences. Unfortunately, the training of most biologists and mathematicians fails to prepare them for this type of research. The Special Year in Mathematical Biology prepares young researchers at the pre- and junior post-doctoral level for these new demands. The speakers and researchers invited to this Special Year have established records of successfully collaborating with both mathematicians and life scientists. The program focuses on three active areas of research in the life sciences: ecology and evolution, physiology and cell biology, and cardiovascular physiology and biological fluid dynamics. These areas have been fertile ground for successful collaboration and modeling in the past. The Special Year introduces young researchers to these successes, involves them in current research, and illustrates the conceptual connections between the different fields. These students, and those benefiting from the book developed from the Special Year, will be the catalysts for further development of this vital connection.