From e-finance to ecology, peace-keeping to population dynamics, urban planning to oceanography, materials to medicine, and security to sustainability.
Mathematics plays a central role in understanding and anticipating a vast array of human and planetary concerns and in predicting and managing or capitalising on their consequences.
In 2013, mathematical scientists are uniting to tackle these and other global issues in Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 (MPE2013), a worldwide initiative endorsed by UNESCO. With over 100 partner organisations in more than 30 countries, including mathematical institutes, professional societies, research centres and teachers’ associations, and with launch events in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK, the goals of MPE2013 are: to formulate the most urgent planetary problems that mathematics can address; to bring together world-class researchers to find solutions to these problems; and to engage the public in a dialogue about the significance of these problems. This will be done via a range of activities including long- and short-term research programmes, workshops, summer schools, exhibitions and public lectures.
Cédric Villani, Fields Medallist and Director of the Institute Henri Poincaré (IHP) in Paris, says: “We think we are in the middle of an economic crisis, but that crisis may be nothing in comparison [with] the ecological crisis that we are, and will be facing. All of mankind’s intellectual resources will be helpful in solving these issues, and that includes mathematical sciences.”
But how can mathematics make a difference? Consider a pandemic. The mathematical modelling of infectious diseases shows that it is not necessary to vaccinate the whole population to eradicate a disease: models can identify the vaccination threshold and the groups to target. Consider now the clouds. Clouds are one of the major contributors to the uncertainty in climate predictions. But mathematicians use advanced geometry to characterise clouds and provide a more quantitative description of their role in the climate system. And what of the ubiquitous satnav? Satellite navigation systems use sophisticated optimisation algorithms to plan the best route and triangulation to determine location.
Whether dealing with the geophysical issues of our earth, the atmospheric issues of our weather, the biological issues of our species, or our everyday human issues, it is mathematics that underpins our understanding and, in turn, our advancement.
MPE2013 related activities at Issac Newton Mathematical Institute
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May - 23 August 2013 Mathematical Modelling and Analysis of Complex Fluids and Active Media in Evolving Domains. |
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15 July - 9 August 2013 Polynomial Optimisation. |
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19 August - 13 September 2013 Infectious Disease Dynamics. |
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27 August - 20 December 2013 Mathematical Challenges in Quantum Information. |
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21 October - 20 December 2013 Mathematics for the Fluid Earth. |
Details of the different events which are taking place around the world in 2013 can be found on the Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 website.
The launch event for Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 took place at the Isaac Newton Institute on Monday 17 December 2013:
Launch event at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences The Mathematics of Extreme Climatic Events From forecasting hurricanes to harnessing wave energy, leading mathematicians, scientists and policy makers will discuss how mathematical models and statistical analysis help us to predict, manage impact, exploit and communicate about nature’s climatic extremes, and how they help Government to anticipate health-related consequences of natural catastrophic events and insurance companies to assess the financial risk of such occurrences. Date: Monday 17 December, 2012 Time: 2-6pm Tickets: The event is free and open to the public, and is suitable for ages 14+. Tickets are available on a first come first served basis via reception@newton.ac.uk Programme: Welcome
Session 1: Predicting and Managing Extreme Climatic Events
Session 2: Exploiting Climatic Extremes and Communicating Risk and Uncertainty
Panel Session
Videos and presentations are now available online!
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The Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences runs scientific programmes varying in length from 4 weeks to 6 months. At any particular time there are typically 2 programmes running, each with up to 20 participants working at the Institute. Shorter workshops, conferences and Satellite Meetings are organised as part of the programmes.