Noise plays a fundamental role in population dynamics, epidemiology and evolution. The sources of noise can be intrinsic, such as a finite number of agents participating in the interactions on the level of populations, cells, genes or single molecules, or external, i.e., environmental noise. The long established approach to model complex biological and population phenomena using deterministic equations of motion is often effective when the noise is sufficiently weak. In recent years, however, researchers are beginning to identify and understand situations when even weak noise can lead to qualitative changes in the population or disease dynamics or in evolutionary outcomes.
Date: Aug 11-15, 2014
Target audience: See course website
Program: The emerging ideas are deep and profound, often utilizing complex and challenging computational techniques. Therefore, a workshop dedicated to fluctuations in population biology, epidemiology and evolution will have the main goals:
- To bring together researchers in statistical physics interested in biological applications and specialists in biology and ecology wishing to expand their arsenal of analytical and numerical techniques;
- Disseminate the latest advances in theoretical and computational work;
- Stimulate the emergence of new research ideas through intensive collaboration and brainstorming between theoreticians and researchers working with real world data during the workshop.
Course website: http://www.lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2014/619/info.php3?wsid=619
