Mathematical Biology and Ecology seminars take place in room L3 of the Mathematical Institute from 2-3pm on Fridays of full term. You can also join us afterwards for tea in the Mathematical Institute Common Room.

Upcoming seminars:

Please note that the list below only shows forthcoming events, which may not include regular events that have not yet been entered for the forthcoming term. Please see the past events page for a list of all seminar series that the department has on offer.

 

Past events in this series


Fri, 14 Nov 2025

11:00 - 12:00
L4

To be announced

Dr Mehmet Can Uçar
(School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences University of Sheffield)
Fri, 21 Nov 2025

11:00 - 12:00
L4

To be announced

Professor Alex Fletcher
(School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences University of Sheffield)
Fri, 28 Nov 2025

11:00 - 12:00
L4

Competition and warfare in bacteria and the human microbiome

Prof Kevin Foster
(Sir William Dunn School of Pathology University of Oxford)
Abstract

Microbial communities contain many evolving and interacting bacteria, which makes them complex systems that are difficult to understand and predict. We use theory – including game theory, agent-based modelling, ecological network theory and metabolic modelling - and combine this with experimental work to understand what it takes for bacteria to succeed in diverse communities. One way is to actively kill and inhibit competitors and we study the strategies that bacteria use in toxin-mediated warfare. We are now also using our approaches to understand the human gut microbiome and its key properties including ecological stability and the ability to resist invasion by pathogens (colonization resistance). Our ultimate goal is to both stabilise microbiome communities and remove problem species without the use of antibiotics.

 

 

Last updated on 17 Oct 2022, 4:06pm. Please contact us with feedback and comments about this page.