Mathematics is an essential part of research in many other disciplines.
Our academics have links with research groups in other departments around the university, and work collaboratively on interdisciplinary projects with colleagues across the Faculty of Science and Health such as the Department of Psychology and the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.
Mathematics research in our department covers three main areas: applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and mathematics education. Academics may have interests in more than one area, and some also carry out research within data science.
Applied mathematics
Applied Mathematics covers a wide range of mathematical topics and application, such as engineering, natural sciences, or industry, that may involve appropriate formulation of equations describing the behaviour of the physical systems and analysis of the equations that may require various mathematical (analytical as well as numerical) techniques. Some of the areas of research interest include:
- Dynamical systems and chaos theory.
- Complex systems and complex networks.
- Synchronisation, chimera-states and collective behaviour.
- Computational neuroscience and brain dynamics.
- Mathematical biology.
Pure mathematics
Pure mathematics studies abstract concepts that may be inspired by real life phenomena and that yield tools that can be applicable in other subject areas. Our academics contribute to well-established areas of mathematics such as algebra, including graph theory and group theory, and geometry. Particular areas of research include:
- Birational geometry.
- Moduli of algebraic varieties.
- Computational algebraic geometry.
- Existence of canonical metrics on Fano varieties.
- Group theory.
Mathematics education
Research in mathematics education is primarily concerned with the tools, methods and approaches that facilitate practice or the study of practice. As demand for students with good mathematics skills increases, we must also improve the way that mathematics is taught.
Our research tries to underpin our own practice. What do we do well with educating our students and what can be done better, feeds through in to our research.
You can find out more about our academics areas of research interest using the staff list below.
