Models and Mathematics in LifE and Social Sciences (MILES).

Mathematical contributors to the social and life sciences typically aim to provide insight by building a model and solving it using ingenious techniques and computer programmes whose details can be inaccessible to researchers in the host discipline. Mathematicians equally can be surprised to discover that these disciplines themselves use quite different kinds of models, in unfamiliar ways to seemingly perplexing ends. Revolutionary progress comes when researchers from all the relevant disciplines create new kinds of models together, owned and exploited by them all. We plan a programme of networking, idea-generation and collaboration activities focused on modelling approaches to the life and social sciences, their synergies and dissonances. We shall explore the different types of model used in different disciplines, the extent to which the models themselves, modelling methods (ways in which models are created and validated), methodologies (the philosophy of science behind modelling) and ways of using models (e.g. for understanding or prediction) can be transferred between disciplines, and when and how to create entirely new modelling frameworks. We shall emphasise three themes of particular interest to research groups in the university, where different disciplines have distinct perspectives: 1) sustainability, 2) the 'in silico' cell, 3) mathematical and computational techniques in social science and biology. Our programme will, however, include activities across the wide span of life and social science modelling, with further occasional events on modelling in the broadest sense, to examine the opportunities for dialogue with other disciplines in the University (e.g. English, Drama, Music, Film, Psychology, Management).The University hosts several highly successful multidisciplinary centres, such as the Centre for Environmental Strategy, the Advanced Technology Institute and the Surrey Space Centre and projects including the ESRC Research Group on Lifestyles, Value and Environment and the EngD programme in Environmental Technology. We see the potential for similar successful interaction between Mathematics, Computing, and the social and life sciences. To achieve it, we must create the circumstances that encourage individuals to take part in multidisciplinary projects, by suggesting to them that to approach another discipline with curiosity but no immediate solutions is of great value, by providing opportunities to meet people from other disciplines and time to learn in detail about their perspectives, issues and interests and to develop a common language, and by offering incentives to embark on risky research adventures.Our three-year programme of activities to stimulate new collaborations in life and social science modelling will be coordinated by a dedicated full-time facilitator, and include: externally facilitated annual sandpits with research pump-priming fund prizes; discipline hopping funding for mathematicians, computer and physical scientists and engineers to spend time in life/social science departments; a monthly Caf Scientifique; multidisciplinary workshops and networking events; a visiting scholar programme; funding for feasibility studies; a virtual forum and wiki for online discussion and collaboration.Research projects conceived and developed during the programme will lead to follow-on grant applications. Owing to the strength of the contributing research groups, we expect the consequent impact on the UK cross-disciplinary research profile to be significant. Our ultimate aim is to create a sense of excitement about stepping beyond traditional subject boundaries and thinking creatively about working with a wide range of potential collaborators, so that the cultural changes initiated by this programme will be sustainable in the longer term, and cross-disciplinary research will continue to flourish at the University into the future.

MILES is intended to foster new collaborations with seedcorn funding, and so we expect that the resulting research projects will be in the early stages during the lifetime of the programme. Economic impact is likely to be achieved after successful projects have obtained follow-on funding, on a time horizon of 5 to 10 years upwards, in many fields. All of society stands to benefit from research to achieve sustainable living. Specific beneficiaries might be those whose health, homes and livelihoods are threatened by climate change. In addition, economic benefit could accrue to companies in the renewable energy industry through research into microbial fuel cells, in the food industry through research into food security, and in a broad range of sectors through research into industrial symbiosis. Developers and manufacturers of safe water systems could benefit from research into safe water technologies. We will aim to involve past and present sponsors of our EngD programme in Environmental Technology in MILES through participation in workshops and research projects in order to enhance its potential economic impact. Policymakers in all sectors - local, regional and central government, voluntary agencies, charities, non-governmental organisations, trade associations, individual businesses - and in all areas from the carbon economy to health, stand to benefit from advances in complexity science that provide insight and tools to support evidence-based decision making. We have contacts with the National Industrial Symbiosis Project and Link2Energy and we will target policymakers in other areas to involve in our programme via Surrey's London Technology Network (LTN) Business Fellows. Pharmaceutical companies want to use in silico methods for more efficient drug discovery, as they are faster, more flexible, safer and cheaper than laboratory testing. Companies with whom we already have relationships (mostly UK) may benefit directly through participation in MILES events. Innovation in drug discovery will improve the efficiency of the pharmaceutical industry, and ultimately lead to improvements in public health. We shall use the LTN fellows to target key innovators in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors for participation in networking events and workshops. Modelling for medical research will yield insight into the origin of medical problems and identify targets for therapeutic intervention. Patients will benefit in the long term from improved treatments for the associated clinical conditions, as will the National Health Service that bears the cost of managing them. We shall aim to involve our contacts within hospitals, either directly in collaborative research projects, or to disseminate research findings within the clinical community. Other beneficiaries would be health economists and managers, who predict financial strategies within the healthcare sector. Research into biomimetics could lead to exploitable technologies, e.g. through Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. The Computing department's KTP partner companies in neural networks and digital ecosystems, and their international partners, could benefit from involvement of the KTP associate in MILES. The general public will be welcome as full participants in the debate at the Cafs Scientifiques. Industrial contacts and the general public will be made aware of programme outputs by direct participation in events and through our website. Industrial partners can also be involved directly in research projects. 'Study group' workshops often lead to long-term collaboration between academics and partners in the commercial sector. Training of the programme facilitator in research programme management, scientific communication and event facilitation will provide a highly skilled professional to the UK economy. Training of the programme participants in multidisciplinary scientific research will provide a valuable resource in an area of strategic importance to UK science.