Lecture | Natuurwetenschappelijk Gezelschap Leiden
Kunnen wiskundige patronen ecosystemen redden?
- Date
- Thursday 26 March 2026
- Time
- Address
-
Gorlaeus Gebouw
Einsteinweg 55
2333 CC Leiden - Room
- CM.1.26
From ripples on the water to the stripes of a zebra and the growth of a tumour: patterns appear everywhere in nature. At first glance they seem completely different, but mathematically they turn out to have remarkable similarities. The same mathematics that was originally developed to understand flowing water now helps us predict the resilience of ecosystems — and sometimes even explain their survival.
In this lecture, together with Professor Arjen Doelman we will explore how patterns emerge, how they evolve as conditions change, and how they can increase the stability of an (eco)system. We will look at examples from savannas, climates, and water flows, as well as surprising parallels with the Dutch river system and even the growth of invasive tumours. By uncovering the underlying mathematical mechanisms, it becomes possible to identify tipping points — and sometimes even predict them.
This lecture will be given in Dutch.
For more information and registration, please see the Dutch version of this webpage.