2025 Math Camp: Understanding Canadian Demography with Math

Populations grow and shrink, the distribution of age groups change, generations come and go. How can math help us understand these changes? Here we use concepts from linear algerbra, data from Statistics Canada, and modelling from the field of “demography” to understand how the Canadian popualtion has changed over the past 50 years and how it is projected to change in the next 50. Use the following worksheet to connect these changes to your own lived experience.

Slides

Worksheet

2024 Computational Math Day

Jack of all trades: using Mathematica to integrate analytical, numerical, and simulation-based approaches

Is there one program to rule them all? No, but when it comes to deciding whether you need a hammer or a screwdriver, why not pick the multi-tool? This introduction to Matheamtica will show how this powerful program can be used to bring together analytical, numerical, and simulation-based approaches to address problems in applied mathematics. Using the logistic model of population growth and the Lotka-Volterra model of predator-prey dynamics as a basis, we will examine how having a wide variety of methods at our fingertips is essential for drawing robust biological conclusions. Attendees are encouraged but not required to install Wolfram Notebook Player for the tutorial.

Mathematica Notebook

PDF Version

Wolfram Player

EEB Toronto Modelling Club

Maybe you simply think models are cool, or have just begun dabbling in modelling, or maybe you model every day but what to find modelling friends, then this is for you. This group is aimed at breaking down barriers to entry in modelling and to building modelling collaborations to answer fascinating questions in ecology and evolution. Each week we discuss topics in theoretical biology with a particular emphasis on the connections between theoretical models and empirical data and systems. Please contact me at ailene[dot]macpherson[at]utoronto[dot]ca for more details.

Videos- Winter Term 2021: Video .zip files

  1. Population Growth
  2. Geographically Structured Populations
  3. Age-Structured Populations
  4. Integral-Projection Models
  5. Compartmental Models
  6. Building Blocks of Population Genetics
  7. Coalescent Theory
  8. Diffusion Equation
  9. Fundamental Theorms in Evolution
  10. Addaptive Dynamics
  11. Models of Molecular Evolution
  12. Brownian Motion and OU Processes
  13. Diversification Models
  14. Neutral theories of evolution and biodiversity

Researh Videos

Researchers Revealed- Beaty Biodiversity Museum UBC

Counting on it!

More Comming Soon!

Secondary Education Outreach

Matheamtical ecology is a fantastic introduction to applied mathematics. My scientific outreach is aimed at bringing mathematical biology to secondary education classrooms.Growing up in a rural education system, I prioritize outreach to educational enviornments using the power of technology (Zoom, ShinyApps by R, etc.).

Biological Applications of Mathematics and Statistics-Ontario