Professor Graham Donavan's Inaugural Lecture

Mathematical biology or biological mathematics: what’s in a name?

Mathematical biology has exploded over recent decades into a huge field in its own right, and while there are many examples of this working well, there are also many pitfalls. This talk reflects on how mathematics and biology interact, and what mathematical biology could (or should) be for mathematics, for biology, and for itself. I will give my take on what does, and does not work, illustrated by examples ranging from asthma treatments to lake health in Aotearoa. While some aspects are unique to mathematics and biology, much also carries over to interdisciplinary research and scientific communication more generally.