A changing world raises great challenges since we need to take steps that either reduce the rate of global change or that manage resources in the face of global change. Both steps require making predictions, which requires theory. But the systems involved are truly complex, so the theory must use mathematics. Mathematics applied to ecology and other environmental sciences has a long history of successes, but understanding the resilience of environmental systems in the face of global change presents substantial mathematical challenges that require novel approaches.
In concert with the MPE 2013 initiative, the NSF’s Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI) at Ohio State will host three workshops in the fall of 2013 under the theme of Ecosystem Dynamics and Management. These workshops will bring together experts from many disciplines to address these challenges.
Tony Nance
Mathematical Biosciences Institute
tony@mbi.osu.edu