Kate Meyer, assistant professor of mathematics, has been awarded a National Science Foundation research grant (#2418973) for her project, “Dynamic Models of Disturbance and Resilience.” Funded by the Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (LEAPS-MPS), Prof. Meyer’s project seeks to address novel mathematical questions that arise from the problem of quantifying resilience to ongoing disturbances in dynamical models of ecosystems.
Despite the widespread use of resilience language in environmental literature, its definition is often omitted or disputed. The mathematical field of dynamical systems is recognized as a common language in which to formalize and reconcile disparate notions of resilience. Using this lens, one finds that a majority of resilience metrics are based on equilibria (steady states) of a system and the like, despite the fact that repeated disturbances such as fires and hurricanes can drive a system far away from these steady states. This project addresses this gap in the dynamical theory of disturbance and resilience. The grant will fund four Carleton undergraduates in summer research positions with Prof. Meyer. To enhance their experience and build community among local applied mathematicians, Prof. Meyer’s project also includes support for a pilot series of vertically integrated summer workshops themed on communication.