New Zealand Institute of Mathematics & its Applications (NZIMA)

Programme theme: Invasive, non-native species are a major threat to indigenous biodiversity and other conservation values in New Zealand. As a consequence New Zealand has become a world leader in biosecurity (e.g. border screening of unwanted organisms) and weed management. There is a strong desire among New Zealand conservation organisations, environmental managers and ecologists to determine the optimal use of resources between the competing demands of controlling existing weeds and stopping new weeds, thus minimising the negative impacts on indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Working with mathematicians, ecologists and managers we will stimulate the design of a mathematical framework for exploring the spread and subsequent impact of invading organisms in New Zealand ecosystems.

Applications of Mathematics in the Nanosciences

Programme theme: The development and application of mathematical and computational methods for experimentation with and model-based prediction of nanoscale phenomena, and design and control of nanoscale systems. This programme's concentrated period of activity will be in the six-month period July to December 2007.