Press Release:

Deterministic and stochastic front propagation

The Banff International Research Station will host the "Deterministic and stochastic front propagation" workshop from March 21 to March 26, 2010.

Reaction-diffusion equations model problems arising in almost every branch of engineering, physical, biological and social sciences. In combustion theory, they describe flame propagation. In theoretical physics, they are a precious tool to analyse superconducting materials and phase transitions. In epidemiology, they can predict how fast an infectious disease is likely to spread. In ecology, they help to describe population dynamics subject to environmental changes including climate modifications. They also play an important role in geometric problems such as E. de Giorgi's problem on minimal surfaces. This problem is now completely solved, after more than 20 years of efforts by a large community of mathematicians.

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí­a (CONACYT).

BIRS Scientific Director, Nassif Ghoussoub
E-mail: birs-director[@]birs.ca
http://www.birs.ca/~nassif