Workshop participant feedback
“The highlight of the workshop for me was undoubtedly the engaging lectures and the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse and talented team. The lectures were thought-provoking, offering deep insights into multiscale modeling techniques and their applications to infectious diseases and cancer. They not only expanded my theoretical knowledge but also provided practical frameworks that I can incorporate into my own research. The collaborative working sessions were equally impactful, as they fostered an environment of shared learning and interdisciplinary exchange. Engaging with a team of experts and peers allowed me to explore new perspectives, refine ideas, and develop solutions collectively, which was an immensely enriching experience.”
The workshop inspired several new ideas and opportunities for collaboration. The interdisciplinary discussions and hands-on sessions sparked innovative approaches to multiscale modeling, particularly in optimizing treatment strategies for infectious diseases and cancer. Collaborative working with peers and instructors highlighted potential synergies, including integrating advanced computational techniques into my current research and exploring joint projects to address complex biological systems.”
“I really thank you for the great opportunity you have given me. I will treasure what I have learnt in these two weeks and try to make the best use of it in my future research.”
This Winter School was part of an initiative aimed at advancing mathematical education and collaboration, with a specific focus on fostering ties between diverse groups and promoting mathematical modeling as a tool to address biomedical challenges, especially within the African context. Participants gained valuable skills and experience, contributing to the global effort to enhance mathematical competence and diversity.
It focused on equipping participants, specifically postgraduate students and early-stage researchers, with the vital skills in mathematical modeling and the fundamental mathematical tools essential for advanced study and research. The program also fostered connections between scholars in Mathematical Biology from the participating countries UK, Africa and abroad.
A platform was provided to facilitate interactions and support among the participants, encouraging a collaborative learning environment. Initiating a dialogue on how mathematical modeling can be applied to real-world biomedical and by extension socio-economic-problems in Africa will be a specific area of focus. Furthermore, there was an emphasis on promoting the development of mathematical modeling techniques within African educational institutions.
Additionally, this Winter School fostered the exchange of knowledge across international boundaries and will played a significant role in helping the recruitment or co-supervision of African graduate students by ICMS institutions, thereby working towards improving or building up diversity in Mathematical Science.
This school was part of a series of events that emerges from the collaboration of three bodies: The 3MC program (Mathematical Modeling Mini-Courses program, Potchefstroom, South Africa), PIMS (Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Canada) and ICMS (International Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Edinburgh, UK).
