"Math and bio 2010 grew out of 'Meeting the Challenges: Education across the Biological, Mathematical and Computer Sciences,' a joint project of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education (NSF DUE), the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)."--Foreword, p. vi

There is a gap between the extensive mathematics background that is beneficial to biologists and the minimal mathematics background biology students acquire in their courses. The result is an undergraduate education in biology with very little quantitative content. New mathematics courses must be devised with the needs of biology students in mind. In this volume, authors from a variety of institutions address some of the problems involved in reforming mathematics curricula for biology students. The problems are sorted into three themes: Models, Processes, and Directions. It is difficult for mathematicians to generate curriculum ideas for the training of biologists so a number of the curriculum models that have been introduced at various institutions comprise the Models section. Processes deals with taking that great course and making sure it is institutionalized in both the biology department (as a requirement) and in the mathematics department (as a course that will live on even if the creator of the course is no longer on the faculty). Directions looks to the future, with each paper laying out a case for pedagogical developments that the authors would like to see.

Now more than ever, biology has the potential to contribute practical solutions to many of the major challenges confronting the United States and the world. A New Biology for the 21st Century recommends that a "New Biology" approach-one that depends on greater integration within biology, and closer collaboration with physical, computational, and earth scientists, mathematicians and engineers-be used to find solutions to four key societal needs: sustainable food production, ecosystem restoration, optimized biofuel production, and improvement in human health. The approach calls for a coordinated effort to leverage resources across the federal, private, and academic sectors to help meet challenges and improve the return on life science research in general.

Even though contemporary biology and mathematics are inextricably linked, high school biology and mathematics courses have traditionally been taught in isolation. But this is beginning to change. This volume presents papers related to the integration of biology and mathematics in high school classes. The first part of the book provides the rationale for integrating mathematics and biology in high school courses as well as opportunities for doing so. The second part explores the development and integration of curricular materials and includes responses from teachers. Papers in the third part of the book explore the interconnections between biology and mathematics in light of new technologies in biology. The last paper in the book discusses what works and what doesn't and presents positive responses from students to the integration of mathematics and biology in their classes.

This open access book is the first major publication on the topic of “Interdisciplinary Mathematics Education” and arose from the work of the first International Topic Study Group of the same name at the ICME-13 conference in Hamburg in 2016. It offers extensive theoretical insights, empirical research, and practitioner accounts of interdisciplinary mathematics work in STEM and beyond (e.g. in music and the arts). Scholars and practitioners from four continents contributed to this comprehensive book, and present studies on: the conceptualizations of interdisciplinarity; implementation cases at schools and tertiary institutions; teacher education; and implications for policy and practice. Each chapter, and the book itself, closes with an assessment of the most significant aspects that those involved in policy and practice, as well as future researchers, should take into account.

Explore and analyze the solutions of mathematical models from diverse disciplines As biology increasingly depends on data, algorithms, and models, it has become necessary to use a computing language, such as the user-friendly MATLAB, to focus more on building and analyzing models as opposed to configuring tedious calculations. Explorations of Mathematical Models in Biology with MATLAB provides an introduction to model creation using MATLAB, followed by the translation, analysis, interpretation, and observation of the models. With an integrated and interdisciplinary approach that embeds mathematical modeling into biological applications, the book illustrates numerous applications of mathematical techniques within biology, ecology, and environmental sciences. Featuring a quantitative, computational, and mathematical approach, the book includes: Examples of real-world applications, such as population dynamics, genetics, drug administration, interacting species, and the spread of contagious diseases, to showcase the relevancy and wide applicability of abstract mathematical techniques Discussion of various mathematical concepts, such as Markov chains, matrix algebra, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, first-order linear difference equations, and nonlinear first-order difference equations Coverage of difference equations to model a wide range of real-life discrete time situations in diverse areas as well as discussions on matrices to model linear problems Solutions to selected exercises and additional MATLAB codes Explorations of Mathematical Models in Biology with MATLAB is an ideal textbook for upper-undergraduate courses in mathematical models in biology, theoretical ecology, bioeconomics, forensic science, applied mathematics, and environmental science. The book is also an excellent reference for biologists, ecologists, mathematicians, biomathematicians, and environmental and resource economists.

Explore and analyze the solutions of mathematical models from diverse disciplines As biology increasingly depends on data, algorithms, and models, it has become necessary to use a computing language, such as the user-friendly MapleTM, to focus more on building and analyzing models as opposed to configuring tedious calculations. Explorations of Mathematical Models in Biology with Maple provides an introduction to model creation using Maple, followed by the translation, analysis, interpretation, and observation of the models. With an integrated and interdisciplinary approach that embeds mathematical modeling into biological applications, the book illustrates numerous applications of mathematical techniques within biology, ecology, and environmental sciences. Featuring a quantitative, computational, and mathematical approach, the book includes: Examples of real-world applications, such as population dynamics, genetics, drug administration, interacting species, and the spread of contagious diseases, to showcase the relevancy and wide applicability of abstract mathematical techniques Discussion of various mathematical concepts, such as Markov chains, matrix algebra, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, first-order linear difference equations, and nonlinear first-order difference equations Coverage of difference equations to model a wide range of real-life discrete time situations in diverse areas as well as discussions on matrices to model linear problems Solutions to selected exercises and additional Maple codes Explorations of Mathematical Models in Biology with Maple is an ideal textbook for undergraduate courses in mathematical models in biology, theoretical ecology, bioeconomics, forensic science, applied mathematics, and environmental science. The book is also an excellent reference for biologists, ecologists, mathematicians, biomathematicians, and environmental and resource economists.

This edited volume presents applications and modelling as a world-renowned sub-field of research in mathematics education. It includes the discussion on students’ development of modelling competency through the teaching of applications and modelling. The teaching of mathematical modelling is considered from different perspectives, such as mathematical, pedagogical-didactical perspectives and critical-societal or socio-political perspectives. Assessment practices (local, regional or international) of modelling activities and difficulties with modelling activities at school and university levels, respectively, are discussed. Use of technology and other resources in modelling activities and their impact on the modelling processes are included in the considerations. Teaching practices, teacher education and professional development programs concerning the integration of applications and modelling in school and university mathematics programs are developed in this context.

This volume contains the selected contributed papers of the BIOMAT 2010 International Symposium which has been organized as a joint conference with the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Society for Mathematical Biology (www.smb.org) by invitation of the Director Board of this Society. The works presented at Tutorial and Plenary Sessions by expert keynote speakers have been also included.This book contains state-of-the-art articles on special research topics on mathematical biology, biological physics and mathematical modelling of biosystems; comprehensive reviews on interdisciplinary areas written by prominent leaders of scientific research groups. The treatment is both pedagogical and sufficiently advanced to enhance future scientific research.