Department of Mathematical Sciences
850 West Dickson Street, Room 309
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
P 479-575-3351
F 479-575-8630
E-mail: math@uark.edu
Public Lecture 2023
Mathematical Models: a World of Insight
Lisette de Pillis (Norman F. Sprague Professor of Life Sciences and Professor of Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College)
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About the Speaker
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Lisette de PillisNorman F. Sprague Professor of Life Sciences and a Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College
Passionate about using mathematics to seek solutions to real-world problems, she works with biologists, oncologists, biotechnology researchers, and other mathematicians to search for new ways to treat diseases that interact with the immune system, in particular cancer, HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and Type I diabetes.
Dr. de Pillis has been recognized for her multidisciplinary research excellence with the Maria Goeppert-Mayer Distinguished Scholar Award from the Argonne National Laboratory. She is also a HERS-CBL Clare Boothe Luce Leadership in STEM Scholar, and has been elected as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.
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May 5, 2023 (6:00 pm CST), in the Reynolds Center Auditorium, Registration is Not Required.
Abstract:
Mathematical models hold the keys to understanding some of the most interesting and complex phenomena in the natural world! In this talk, we will explore how to harness the power of mathematical modeling to answer challenging questions that may at first seem unsolvable. Can an overflowing bathtub help us figure out how to achieve herd immunity in a pandemic? Can the behavior of a lynx help us understand how human immune cells fight cancer? By making a few simplifying assumptions, we can draw parallels between natural systems that may appear radically different on the surface to unlock new levels of understanding the world around us.
