Topic of Research Seminar: Moving Through and Across Disciplines: A Rewarding Journey in Studying Biology Through the Lens of Mathematics

Abstract: This lecture aimsto inspire and, at the same time, demonstrate how the rigour of mathematical thinking allows to capture the complexity of the movement and interaction of biological entities. The language with which to converse seamlessly with scientists from different disciplines is what I coined themathematics of movement, which comprises the set of concepts and techniques that have been used across scientific domains to study movement in all its shapes and forms. Through specific case studies I will show how logical analysis of the fundamental hypotheses, careful consideration of the available observations, and an explanation of general principles by cleverly chosen transparent examples, provide the tools to answer challenging and long-standing questions. My passion for moving beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines in science has also prompted me to move past cultural barriers and engage with international academics. It is in this spirit that together with colleagues at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad we have started collaborating to develop an International Centre for the Mathematics of Movement, whose goal is to provide opportunities for under-represented communities in mathematics, create an international set of expert modellers on the mathematics of movement, and help tackle some of the hardest scientific problems of our time.

Name of Speaker: Prof. Luca Giuggioli

Professorial Rank of Speaker: Professor of Complexity Sciences at the University of Bristol, UK

Affiliation of Speaker: University of Bristol, UK

Date and Venue: (Wednesday) 10 September, 2025, 03:30 PM, Seminar Hall, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), NUST Islamabad