Did you know that it is possible to use mathematical models to calculate how best to repair a broken blood vessel? And that it is possible to find out what tire groove gives the best grip on wintry roads? On 21-25 October, 50 researchers and doctoral students from 14 countries attended a conference at Karlstad University to discuss the latest advances in the technology behind multiscale partial differential equations, a new mathematics trend that more and more people find interesting.
Multiscale partial differential equations constitute an emergent field where mathematics intersects with engineering, physical science, and computational science. The technology involves using mathematics to understand complex materials. Using various mathematical models, it is possible to connect physical, chemical, and mechanical properties to design an expected response.
“Mathematicians can help build models of reality and calculate how it would be possible to develop a better application. It can for instance be about improving the quality of steel or paper, or repairing a broken blood vessel,” says Adrian Muntean, Professor of Mathematics and one of the organisers of the conference.
During the week of the conference, experts and people interested in mathematics gathered to form networks and discuss the latest trends and various mathematical technologies. Different types of lectures were combined with mini-courses for doctoral students and a defence of a doctoral thesis by Arthur Vromans.
Many doctoral students
As many as 22 out of 50 participants were doctoral students, which bodes well for future research. One of them was Lena Leitenmaier from the Royal institute of Technology, KTH, who is doing research on Magnetisation Dynamics. She was very pleased with the conference.
“Conferences can be quite wide-ranging, but the good thing about this one was that we focused on a specialised area which is very relevant for my research. We had a good mix of lecturers and different topics, and it has been interesting to find out what other people are working on.”
Read more about the conference here.
