Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/M00631X/1
Introduction to Ecological Modelling
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor DJ Murrell, University College London, Genetics Evolution and Environment
- Grant held at:
- University College London, Genetics Evolution and Environment
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Community Ecology
- Conservation Ecology
- Population Ecology
- Abstract:
- Ecology is essentially the study of complex systems. Rain forests and coral reefs are celebrated for their biological diversity, but this diversity makes them hard to understand since all component species play a role in their functioning, and changes in abundance of one species may have ripple effects that are difficult to predict. However, this complexity is not only reserved for the most diverse ecological communities, and even single species studies, such as the management or conservation of large mammals involve difficult questions such as determining the amount and layout of habitat that will permit the species to persist for at least 100years. As in astrophysics and engineering, mathematical modelling is an important tool to strip away some of the complexity and get to the essential features of the ecological systems under study. Ecological modelling has a variety of roles to play, from advancing conceptual understanding and helping to form new scientific hypotheses, to making strategic decisions by running what if scenarios, eg how will a species be affected by predicted changes to climate and/or habitat? However, most ecologists do not have much formal training in mathematics beyond high school, and there is a danger that ecological theory and ecological data become too separated leading to a slowing of progress. Indeed, a recent survey reports that the majority of early career ecologists are unsatisfied with their mathematical training at undergraduate level and call for more training in modelling. Our short training course aims to bridge this gap by giving ecologists a firmer understanding of the key mathematical tools and concepts that are used in ecological modelling. Mathematical modelling is an active exercise and we will achieve this aim by a mixture of lectures that introduce mathematical tools and concepts and computer-based practicals that will explore these more deeply. Importantly, our training team is made up of internationally recognised theoretical ecologists all of whom have experience at teaching theory to early career and undergraduate biologists. This experience has told us that it is important to introduce new concepts and tools using language that is familiar to the participants. In so doing, we will remove some of the mystery surrounding mathematical modelling in ecology, and participants will leave better able to understand and critically appraise models used by other ecologists. We also hope that for some the course will act as a springboard to the development of deeper modelling skills;something that is widely acknowledged to be lacking in the environmental sciences.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/M00631X/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £16,346
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £16,346 |
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