Mathematical Sciences: Special Year in Mathematical Biology

研究者和他的同事们在犹他大学数学系进行了一个特殊的数学生物学年。合作院系包括生物系、生物工程系、人类遗传学系和诺拉·埃克尔斯·哈里森心血管研究与培训学院。特别年的主要目标是培养研究生和博士后在艺术和科学建模应用于生物问题。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，并有重要的新机会：生态学和进化（1995年秋季），生理学和细胞生物学（1996年冬季），以及心血管生理学和生物流体动力学（1996年春季）。教育项目包括(i)由来访的首席讲师提供的名为“生物学中的数学建模”的全年课程，他们将展示一个将数学建模应用于其专业领域的生物学问题的案例研究；（ii）由犹他大学的首席讲师、其他访客和科学家提供的每周系列研讨会；（iii）在该季度范围内的一个活跃研究领域的季度小型研讨会。（iv）学生/博士后研讨会，旨在非正式地展示思想、新成果和开放性问题。本课程的笔记将会出版。犹他大学数学生物学特别年的目标是培养年轻科学家对生物学问题进行数学建模。研究生和博士后沉浸在跨学科的教育和合作环境中，与领先的数学家和科学家在一起。尽管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关系日益密切，强大的新实验技术使人们有可能观察到生理学、遗传学和生态学中以前无法达到的机制。强大的计算机的广泛使用使研究人员能够模拟复杂和现实的生态和生理系统模型，建立建模和计算作为生命科学实验的新模式。不幸的是，大多数生物学家和数学家所受的训练并没有让他们为这类研究做好准备。数学生物学特殊年为这些新的需求准备了预科和初级博士后水平的年轻研究人员。受邀参加这个特别年的演讲者和研究人员都有与数学家和生命科学家成功合作的记录。该计划侧重于生命科学的三个活跃研究领域：生态学和进化，生理学和细胞生物学，心血管生理学和生物流体动力学。在过去，这些领域是成功协作和建模的沃土。特别年向年轻研究人员介绍这些成功，使他们参与当前的研究，并说明不同领域之间概念上的联系。这些学生，以及那些从特殊年培养的书籍中受益的人，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.