You’re invited to submit entries for our online #IMA60 anniversary competition. The theme is #IMAMathsin60seconds – share some interesting mathematics in under 60 seconds. Your topic can be anything from the wonderful world of mathematics. Be creative and choose any supporting media you like: videos, animations, text, images, or something else. All you need to do is post your entry on social media, tag the IMA and use the hashtag #IMAMathsin60seconds.
11:00
Joint seminar with Mathematical Biology and Ecology Seminar: Bifurcations, pattern formation and multi-stability in non-local models of interacting species
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms behind the spatial distribution, self-organisation and aggregation of organisms is a central issue in both ecology and cell biology. Since self-organisation at the population level is the cumulative effect of behaviours at the individual level, it requires a mathematical approach to be elucidated.
In nature, every individual, be it a cell or an animal, inspects its territory before moving. The process of acquiring information from the environment is typically non-local, i.e. individuals have the ability to inspect a portion of their territory. In recent years, a growing body of empirical research has shown that non-locality is a key aspect of movement processes, while mathematical models incorporating non-local interactions have received increasing attention for their ability to accurately describe how interactions between individuals and their environment can affect their movement, reproduction rate and well-being. In this talk, I will present a study of a class of advection-diffusion equations that model population movements generated by non-local species interactions. Using a combination of analytical and numerical tools, I will show that these models support a wide variety of spatio-temporal patterns that are able to reproduce segregation, aggregation and time-periodic behaviours commonly observed in real systems. I will also show the existence of parameter regions where multiple stable solutions coexist and hysteresis phenomena.
Overall, I will describe various methods for analysing bifurcations and pattern formation properties of these models, which represent an essential mathematical tool for addressing fundamental questions about the many aggregation phenomena observed in nature.
The Centre for Teaching and Learning’s Teaching at Oxford in 2024-25 webpage offers Oxford-specific resources to help colleagues support students in maximising their academic potential through inclusive education. The page includes guidance for assisting freshers with their transition to the University, and resources for colleagues new to teaching at Oxford this year.
Thursday 26 September, 6–8pm. Blackwell Hall, Weston Library
How do we relax? A lot of us like collecting things and enjoying our collections. They might be books, they might be records, they might be photographs, they can be anything. As a library, the Bodleian has enjoyed collecting for over 400 years and we want to foster that joy in others. Join us to have a drink and celebrate collecting and consider bringing your own collected items.
The Oxford University Careers Service have opened registrations for their six in-person careers fairs in Michaelmas term. At the fairs, you'll meet representatives from a variety of organisations, explore jobs and internships, chat to careers advisers, and generally find out more. Sign up now for all or some of the upcoming fairs.