Modelling sperm-mucus interactions across scales
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Mathematics
Abstract
The process of the sperm reaching the egg is the reason we are all here, but we often don't stop to think, why was it that particular sperm and not one of the billions of others? If we do, we usually assume that it was all up to chance and that the sperm that provided half of our genetic make up simply had about a one-in-a-billion shot of being the one. This, however, is not the complete story and, as experimental evidence shows, the female tract deploys a variety of biochemical and biophysical mechanisms to actively select the most viable sperm cells, allowing only this group the chance at fertilising the egg. Understanding the mechanisms at play is not only fundamental to our understanding of reproductive biology, but also crucial to effectively diagnosing and treating cases of infertility.
One key player in sperm selection is mucus: the complex fluid through which the sperm cells must swim. When we think of mucus, we often think of a slimy and gooey substance. The gooeyness is due to the fact that mucus in comprised of a network of elastic filaments suspended in water. Due to its small size, a sperm cell, rather than experiencing the gooeyness, instead experiences the network as a series of obstacles with which it must interact as it tries to swim. During fertile periods, the properties of the filament network change to allow healthy, viable sperm to pass, while filtering out the rest. It remains unclear, however, which network properties enable this remarkable differentiation between healthy and abnormal sperm cells. Developing a clear understanding of the underlying mechanics of sperm-filament network interactions could pave the way for the development of new diagnostics, based on synthetic artificial mucus environments, as well as new fertility treatments.
The goal of this project is to use mathematical modelling to quantify these sperm-network interactions and explore how they impact sperm selection. The models we develop will be able to examine how both the shape and swimming characteristics of individual sperm affect its ability to move through networks of different properties, as well as how the interactions affect the motion of multiple sperm and sperm populations at scales close to the female tract itself. To do this, we will develop two kinds of mathematical models. The first model will provide a microscopic description of the coupled motion of the sperm cells and filaments by resolving the details of the fluid flows generated by the swimming sperm, the bending and stretching of the network filaments, and the collisions between the sperm cells and network filaments. This model will allow us to explore in great detail how different network properties affect the motion of individual or small groups of sperm cells with different swimming characteristics and morphologies. The second model will describe the dynamics of sperm populations in the female tract at the longer time and larger length scales not accessible to the first model. This model will be derived using a rigorous coarse-graining methodology to systematically eliminate degrees of freedom from the more detailed model while still ensuring relevant effects are captured consistently. Using this model we can explore en masse sperm selection and link population-level differentiation with details of the sperm-mucus interactions.
We aim for these mathematical models to have the two-fold effect of pushing forward fields associated with applied mathematics such as scientific computing, fluid mechanics, non-linear partial differential equations, and multiscale analysis, but also providing important inroads of using mathematics to impact the biological sciences and medicine. A key aspect of our project is to interface with active fertility clinicians and reproductive biologists and explore with them how our models coupled with their laboratory techniques might be used in the future to enhance clinical data and provide better patient outcomes
One key player in sperm selection is mucus: the complex fluid through which the sperm cells must swim. When we think of mucus, we often think of a slimy and gooey substance. The gooeyness is due to the fact that mucus in comprised of a network of elastic filaments suspended in water. Due to its small size, a sperm cell, rather than experiencing the gooeyness, instead experiences the network as a series of obstacles with which it must interact as it tries to swim. During fertile periods, the properties of the filament network change to allow healthy, viable sperm to pass, while filtering out the rest. It remains unclear, however, which network properties enable this remarkable differentiation between healthy and abnormal sperm cells. Developing a clear understanding of the underlying mechanics of sperm-filament network interactions could pave the way for the development of new diagnostics, based on synthetic artificial mucus environments, as well as new fertility treatments.
The goal of this project is to use mathematical modelling to quantify these sperm-network interactions and explore how they impact sperm selection. The models we develop will be able to examine how both the shape and swimming characteristics of individual sperm affect its ability to move through networks of different properties, as well as how the interactions affect the motion of multiple sperm and sperm populations at scales close to the female tract itself. To do this, we will develop two kinds of mathematical models. The first model will provide a microscopic description of the coupled motion of the sperm cells and filaments by resolving the details of the fluid flows generated by the swimming sperm, the bending and stretching of the network filaments, and the collisions between the sperm cells and network filaments. This model will allow us to explore in great detail how different network properties affect the motion of individual or small groups of sperm cells with different swimming characteristics and morphologies. The second model will describe the dynamics of sperm populations in the female tract at the longer time and larger length scales not accessible to the first model. This model will be derived using a rigorous coarse-graining methodology to systematically eliminate degrees of freedom from the more detailed model while still ensuring relevant effects are captured consistently. Using this model we can explore en masse sperm selection and link population-level differentiation with details of the sperm-mucus interactions.
We aim for these mathematical models to have the two-fold effect of pushing forward fields associated with applied mathematics such as scientific computing, fluid mechanics, non-linear partial differential equations, and multiscale analysis, but also providing important inroads of using mathematics to impact the biological sciences and medicine. A key aspect of our project is to interface with active fertility clinicians and reproductive biologists and explore with them how our models coupled with their laboratory techniques might be used in the future to enhance clinical data and provide better patient outcomes
Planned Impact
Impact vision: Mathematical models are used widely in weather prediction and to predict financial markets. We envision a future where the predictive power of mathematical models is also used in healthcare to help diagnose diseases and improve patient outcomes. Our project aims to make in roads towards this vision in the context of fertility healthcare.
Impact on society: Infertility treatments are expensive, invasive, and often used without identifying the exact cause of infertility. We aim to couple our mathematical models to existing fertility diagnostics with the aim of increasing diagnosis accuracy and improving patient outcomes. To do this, we will collaborate with Dr Matt Tomlinson, the head of an NHS fertility lab, and Prof William Holt, a world leader in fertility research. We view this aspect of the project as the prototyping phase of a virtual mucus simulator, a software tool that can be used by clinical fertility labs to enhance fertility diagnosis. We plan to explain our vision of using mathematics in healthcare to the public through the Imperial Festival, an annual event showcasing the institution's research activities to a general audience.
Impact on people: The use of mathematical models in healthcare requires training junior mathematicians to work with clinical scientists. With this in mind, the PDRAs will work closely with Dr. Tomlinson and his team to couple the mathematical models with their lab data. This will become part of their larger training in numerics and data handling that will increase their job prospects. At the same time, the PRDAs will be encouraged to develop their own independent ideas. They will receive travel funds to attend conferences and develop international contacts. Throughout the project, they will receive careful guidance from EEK and PD and benefit from the Imperial College Postdoctoral Development Centre. We aim for training to also extend to postgraduates through courses we will teach as part of the multi-university TCC programme. We will also participate in the Imperial CDT in Fluid Mechanics across Scales and expose our own PhD students to the proposed research.
Impact on knowledge: Our project will provide new knowledge on the specific problem of sperm cell locomotion in filament networks, as well as the broader problem of modelling biological materials at various length- and time-scales. The new mathematical techniques that we plan to develop will find application in many other biological problems, including cancer cell motility in the extracellular matrix. Our project will provide new knowledge on using mathematical models in healthcare by working directly with clinicians and coupling our models with their data and lab techniques. We will publish our results in journals with strong interdisciplinary focus, as well as those in mathematical biology, applied mathematics, and fluid mechanics. We will also present our research at conferences serving these different communities. Additionally, we aim to bring together UK mathematicians and fertility researchers by leveraging funds to organise targeted workshops.
Impact on Economy: Coupling mathematical models with existing clinical techniques provides a clear path to new wealth creation. Dr Tomlinson is a co-founder of the start-up Pro-Creative Diagnostics which developed the computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) package Sperminator. The project will help bolster this UK-based start-up, through advertising its usage as part of an innovative project. Coupling our models with the data format provided by this software provides a direct route to their eventual usage as part of a bigger software package where simulations based on our models are run alongside video processing. We envision possible commercial activities to arise as a result of this project and plan on interfacing with Imperial Innovations which aids in the commercialisation of research emerging from Imperial.
Impact on society: Infertility treatments are expensive, invasive, and often used without identifying the exact cause of infertility. We aim to couple our mathematical models to existing fertility diagnostics with the aim of increasing diagnosis accuracy and improving patient outcomes. To do this, we will collaborate with Dr Matt Tomlinson, the head of an NHS fertility lab, and Prof William Holt, a world leader in fertility research. We view this aspect of the project as the prototyping phase of a virtual mucus simulator, a software tool that can be used by clinical fertility labs to enhance fertility diagnosis. We plan to explain our vision of using mathematics in healthcare to the public through the Imperial Festival, an annual event showcasing the institution's research activities to a general audience.
Impact on people: The use of mathematical models in healthcare requires training junior mathematicians to work with clinical scientists. With this in mind, the PDRAs will work closely with Dr. Tomlinson and his team to couple the mathematical models with their lab data. This will become part of their larger training in numerics and data handling that will increase their job prospects. At the same time, the PRDAs will be encouraged to develop their own independent ideas. They will receive travel funds to attend conferences and develop international contacts. Throughout the project, they will receive careful guidance from EEK and PD and benefit from the Imperial College Postdoctoral Development Centre. We aim for training to also extend to postgraduates through courses we will teach as part of the multi-university TCC programme. We will also participate in the Imperial CDT in Fluid Mechanics across Scales and expose our own PhD students to the proposed research.
Impact on knowledge: Our project will provide new knowledge on the specific problem of sperm cell locomotion in filament networks, as well as the broader problem of modelling biological materials at various length- and time-scales. The new mathematical techniques that we plan to develop will find application in many other biological problems, including cancer cell motility in the extracellular matrix. Our project will provide new knowledge on using mathematical models in healthcare by working directly with clinicians and coupling our models with their data and lab techniques. We will publish our results in journals with strong interdisciplinary focus, as well as those in mathematical biology, applied mathematics, and fluid mechanics. We will also present our research at conferences serving these different communities. Additionally, we aim to bring together UK mathematicians and fertility researchers by leveraging funds to organise targeted workshops.
Impact on Economy: Coupling mathematical models with existing clinical techniques provides a clear path to new wealth creation. Dr Tomlinson is a co-founder of the start-up Pro-Creative Diagnostics which developed the computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) package Sperminator. The project will help bolster this UK-based start-up, through advertising its usage as part of an innovative project. Coupling our models with the data format provided by this software provides a direct route to their eventual usage as part of a bigger software package where simulations based on our models are run alongside video processing. We envision possible commercial activities to arise as a result of this project and plan on interfacing with Imperial Innovations which aids in the commercialisation of research emerging from Imperial.
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics of Toulouse (Collaboration)
- University of Orleans (Collaboration)
- University of Naples (Collaboration)
- Arizona State University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- Paris Dauphine University (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- University of Vienna (Collaboration)
- French National Institute of Agricultural Research (Collaboration)
- National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) (Collaboration)
- University of Strasbourg (Collaboration)
- University of Toulouse (Collaboration)
- New York University (Collaboration)
Publications
Blanchet A
(2017)
Kinetic models for topological nearest-neighbor interactions
Blanchet A
(2017)
Kinetic Models for Topological Nearest-Neighbor Interactions.
in Journal of statistical physics
Delmotte B
(2017)
Simulations of Brownian tracer transport in squirmer suspensions
Degond P
(2018)
Propagation of chaos for topological interactions
Schoeller S.F.
(2018)
Linking individual and collective dynamics of sperm in suspension
in IUTAM Symposium on Motile Cells in Complex Environments, MCCE 2018
Bao Y
(2018)
A fluctuating boundary integral method for Brownian suspensions
in Journal of Computational Physics
Barré J
(2018)
Particle Interactions Mediated by Dynamical Networks: Assessment of Macroscopic Descriptions.
in Journal of nonlinear science
Title | Aggregation in a synchronized sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with fixed undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and interacting through fully resolved hydrodynamics. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period in order to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3A of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Aggregation_in_a_synchronized_sperm_suspension_from_From_flagellar_... |
Title | Aggregation in a synchronized sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with fixed undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and interacting through fully resolved hydrodynamics. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period in order to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3A of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Aggregation_in_a_synchronized_sperm_suspension_from_From_flagellar_... |
Title | Dynamics of an initially isotropic high-density sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | A simulation of 500 swimmers (effective area fraction 1.59) with fully resolved hydrodynamics starting from an isotropic configuration. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Dynamics_of_an_initially_isotropic_high-density_sperm_suspension_fr... |
Title | Dynamics of an initially isotropic high-density sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | A simulation of 500 swimmers (effective area fraction 1.59) with fully resolved hydrodynamics starting from an isotropic configuration. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Dynamics_of_an_initially_isotropic_high-density_sperm_suspension_fr... |
Title | Dynamics of an initially isotropic low-density sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | A simulation of 170 swimmers (effective area fraction 0.54) with fully resolved hydrodynamics starting from an isotropic configuration. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Dynamics_of_an_initially_isotropic_low-density_sperm_suspension_fro... |
Title | Dynamics of an initially isotropic low-density sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | A simulation of 170 swimmers (effective area fraction 0.54) with fully resolved hydrodynamics starting from an isotropic configuration. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Dynamics_of_an_initially_isotropic_low-density_sperm_suspension_fro... |
Title | Evolution of an initially isotropic sperm suspension in the absence of hydrodynamics interactions from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with stochastically-varying undulation frequencies starting from an initially isotropic configuration and using a drag-based, resistive force theory. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3B of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Evolution_of_an_initially_isotropic_sperm_suspension_in_the_absence... |
Title | Evolution of an initially isotropic sperm suspension in the absence of hydrodynamics interactions from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with stochastically-varying undulation frequencies starting from an initially isotropic configuration and using a drag-based, resistive force theory. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3B of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Evolution_of_an_initially_isotropic_sperm_suspension_in_the_absence... |
Title | Evolution of an initially polar sperm suspension in the absence of hydrodynamics interactions from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with stochastically-varying undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and using a drag-based, resistive force theory. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3B of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Evolution_of_an_initially_polar_sperm_suspension_in_the_absence_of_... |
Title | Evolution of an initially polar sperm suspension in the absence of hydrodynamics interactions from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with stochastically-varying undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and using a drag-based, resistive force theory. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3B of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Evolution_of_an_initially_polar_sperm_suspension_in_the_absence_of_... |
Title | Flagellar undulations in a suspension synchronized sperm from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | An excerpt from the simulation of 1000 swimmers with fixed undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and interacting through fully resolved hydrodynamics. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There are multiple frames per period to show what is occurring at the time-scale of flagellar undulations. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3A of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Flagellar_undulations_in_a_suspension_synchronized_sperm_from_From_... |
Title | Flagellar undulations in a suspension synchronized sperm from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | An excerpt from the simulation of 1000 swimmers with fixed undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and interacting through fully resolved hydrodynamics. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There are multiple frames per period to show what is occurring at the time-scale of flagellar undulations. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3A of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Flagellar_undulations_in_a_suspension_synchronized_sperm_from_From_... |
Title | Ksp0p2Phi0p15.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2a showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 0.2 and 0.15. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp0p2Phi0p15_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_... |
Title | Ksp0p2Phi0p15.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2a showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 0.2 and 0.15. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp0p2Phi0p15_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_... |
Title | Ksp0p2Phi0p25.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2b showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 0.2 and 0.25. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp0p2Phi0p25_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_... |
Title | Ksp0p2Phi0p25.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2b showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 0.2 and 0.25. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp0p2Phi0p25_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_... |
Title | Ksp0p2Phi0p35.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2c showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 0.2 and 0.35. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp0p2Phi0p35_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_... |
Title | Ksp0p2Phi0p35.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2c showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 0.2 and 0.35. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp0p2Phi0p35_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_... |
Title | Ksp2Phi0p15.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2d showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 2 and 0.15. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp2Phi0p15_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_tr... |
Title | Ksp2Phi0p15.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2d showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 2 and 0.15. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp2Phi0p15_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_tr... |
Title | Ksp2Phi0p25.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2e showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 2 and 0.25. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp2Phi0p25_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_tr... |
Title | Ksp2Phi0p25.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2e showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 2 and 0.25. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp2Phi0p25_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_tr... |
Title | Ksp2Phi0p35.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2f showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 2 and 0.35. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp2Phi0p35_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_tr... |
Title | Ksp2Phi0p35.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video corresponding the Fig. 2f showing swimmer motion in an environment with ksp 2 and 0.35. The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Ksp2Phi0p35_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion_and_tr... |
Title | Large-scale motion in a sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with stochastically-varying undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and interacting though fully resolved hydrodynamics. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period in order to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3C of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Large-scale_motion_in_a_sperm_suspension_from_From_flagellar_undula... |
Title | Large-scale motion in a sperm suspension from From flagellar undulations to collective motion: predicting the dynamics of sperm suspensions |
Description | The simulation of 1000 swimmers with stochastically-varying undulation frequencies starting from a polar configuration and interacting though fully resolved hydrodynamics. The domain size is 13.29 swimmer lengths and the effective area fraction is 1.42. There is only one frame per period in order to observe suspension evolution. An image from this simulation is shown in Fig. 3C of the main text. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Large-scale_motion_in_a_sperm_suspension_from_From_flagellar_undula... |
Title | TrappingKsp8Phi0p4.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video showing swimmer trapping in a stiff, dense environment (ksp 8 and 0.4). The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/TrappingKsp8Phi0p4_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion... |
Title | TrappingKsp8Phi0p4.mp4 from Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments |
Description | Video showing swimmer trapping in a stiff, dense environment (ksp 8 and 0.4). The swimmers tapered ends are for visualization only. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/TrappingKsp8Phi0p4_mp4_from_Enhanced_locomotion_effective_diffusion... |
Description | Using mathematical models, this project examined how mechanical interactions with polymer networks in biological fluids influence the movement of sperm during reproduction. Notable achievements of the project include: 1. A new, efficient and accurate computational model for interacting flexible filaments immersed in viscous fluids. This was used in our network-sperm simulations but has wider applications to biophysics and non-Newtonian fluid mechanics and suspensions. 2. Enhanced sperm swimming speeds due to interactions: Our research revealed that the interactions between the sperm's flagellum (whip-like tail) and the network will yield faster swimming than if the network were not there. This enhancement dissappears however, if the network becomes too dense, revealing further that there is an optimal polymer network density for sperm locomotion. 3. Interactions of sperm cells: Our research revealed how the fluid flows generated by the motion the sperms' flagella can lead to different collective sperm motions (aggregation vs. a wave-like folding) depending on the coordination of beating between neighbouring cells. 4. Continuum-level modelling of sperm suspensions: We have formulated a continuum-level model to characterise the motion of a sperm population rather than individuals. 5. Synchronisation of active filaments: We have used our filament model to examine in more detail the synchronised motion of flagella we have found in our sperm simulations, understanding how it arises and changes with the interflagellar distance, magnitude of flagellar forcing, and flagellar arrangement. 6. Simulation of Brownian suspensions and mechanics: For the networks, it is important to understand how they deform in response to an applied stress. We have developed efficient numerical methods that can probe this aspect of complex fluids, including also the random Brownian fluctuations that arise when modelling polymer chains. |
Exploitation Route | In our opinion, our research has opened many doors for the biofluids community. These are 4 of the primary outcomes that we envision the community taking forward. 1. Filament model: The filament model that we have developed is a tangible tool that can be readily accessed and used by researchers to address a multitude of problems arising in biophysics and biofluiddynamics. We have implemented the model in codes and released an open source version on github. 2. Coarse-graining procedure: Our continuum-level modelling shows how techniques such as coarse-graining and hydrodynamic limits can be applied and harnessed in biofluiddynamics-related research. 3. Characterising enhanced locomotion of sperm cells: Our research has shown that the mechanical interactions between swimming sperm and the mucin network through which they swim can enhance their locomotion provided that the network density remains low. At high densities, the speed drops dramatically. This indicates that there is a 'sweet spot' in network density and it would be interesting to explore this connection further, especially in experiments. 4. Synchronised movement of flagella and cilia: Using our filament model, we have characterised the conditions underwhich cilia and flagella, such as those used by sperm, may synchronise and further, how this synchronisation affects their collective movement. We have explored how synchronisation is impacted by the distance between cilia, the magnitude of the force used to drive the cilia, and the topology of the surface to which the cilia are attached. Cilia and flagella are found throughout the natural world and studied by many scientists. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | EPSRC Capital Award for Core Equipment - Imperial College London |
Amount | £904,896 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T024712/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2019 |
End | 05/2021 |
Description | Imperial European Partners Fund |
Amount | £3,300 (GBP) |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2017 |
End | 05/2019 |
Description | Mathematical and In- silico modelisation of normal and malignant HSC in their niche and of their interactions with stromal cells. |
Amount | £160,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | Coarse graining of an assembly of swimmers in a fluid |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Department | Department of Mathematics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The team of Eric Keaveny has produced a model for the collective motion of an assembly of swimmers in a fluid. The swimmers are described by a string of sphere subject to the constraint of staying contact with each other. The various swimmers interact through hydrodynamic interaction. We have started to develop a coarse-graining of this model into a fluid model for the assembly of swimmers. |
Collaborator Contribution | The team of Eric Keaveny has produced the microscopic model. |
Impact | No output so far. The project is just beginning |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collective dynamics of tethered obstacles interacting though hydrodynamic interaction |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Department | Department of Mathematics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Sara Merino, Pedro Aceves-Sanchez and I developed a coarse grained model of an assembly of tethered obstacles embedded in a fluid and interacting though the fluid. We started from a draft written by the team of Eric Keaveny giving the microscopic description of this phenomenon and we have successively derived a kinetic model and then a fluid model. |
Collaborator Contribution | Eric Keaveny has provided the microscopic description of the phenomenon. |
Impact | So far, we have written a draft and we are aiming at developing numerical simulations of the model |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Computational models for suspensions of active and Brownian particles |
Organisation | Institute of Fluid Mechanics of Toulouse |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided computational models based on the force-coupling method to include effects such as active motion due to swimming and Brownian motion due to thermal fluctuations in the surrounding fluid in the suspension codes used at IMFT. |
Collaborator Contribution | The researchers and PhD students at IMFT performed the computations using the models. |
Impact | 1. B Delmotte, EE Keaveny, F Plouraboue and E Climent, 'Large-scale simulation of steady and timedependent active suspensions with the force-coupling method,' J. Comput. Phys., vol. 203, p. 524-547 (2015) 2. B Delmotte and EE Keaveny, 'Simulating Brownian suspensions with fluctuating hydrodynamics,' J. Chem. Phys, vol. 143, 244109 (2015) 3. B Delmotte, EE Keaveny, E Climent, and F Plouraboue, 'Simulations of Brownian tracers in squirmer suspensions,' to appear (2018). |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Conditionning of numerical models of interacting swimmers |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Department | Department of Mathematics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The team of Eric Keaveny has developed a code modelling swimmers as a string of spheres moving under the constraint that they stay together. The constraint leads to a still numerical problem that generates strong stability constraints and poor conditionning. Using its experience on the handling of constrained optimization, the team of P. Degond has started to develop a new numerical algorithm which will hopefully help solving the conditionning problem. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Team of Eric Keaveny has provided the code modelling the swimmers. |
Impact | No output yet. The collaboration has just started. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Flocking through body attitude coordination |
Organisation | Paris Dauphine University |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We study new models for multi-agent dynamics where each agent is described by its position and body attitude: agents travel at a constant speed in a given direction and their body can rotate around it adopting different configurations. Agents try to coordinate their body attitudes with those of their neighbours. We introduce the Individual Based Model for this dynamics and derive its corresponding kinetic and macroscopic equations. This is a new model where collective motion is reached through body attitude coordination, which has never been considered. |
Collaborator Contribution | All partners contributed equally to this research |
Impact | A paper is going to appear : P. Degond, A. Frouvelle, S. Merino-Aceituno, A new flocking model through body attitude coordination. To appear in Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences. Manuscript on arXiv. Another paper has been submitted: P. Degond, A. Frouvelle, S. Merino-Aceituno, A. Trescases, Quaternions in collective dynamics. Submitted. Manuscript on arXiv. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Flocking through body attitude coordination |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Department of Zoology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We study new models for multi-agent dynamics where each agent is described by its position and body attitude: agents travel at a constant speed in a given direction and their body can rotate around it adopting different configurations. Agents try to coordinate their body attitudes with those of their neighbours. We introduce the Individual Based Model for this dynamics and derive its corresponding kinetic and macroscopic equations. This is a new model where collective motion is reached through body attitude coordination, which has never been considered. |
Collaborator Contribution | All partners contributed equally to this research |
Impact | A paper is going to appear : P. Degond, A. Frouvelle, S. Merino-Aceituno, A new flocking model through body attitude coordination. To appear in Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences. Manuscript on arXiv. Another paper has been submitted: P. Degond, A. Frouvelle, S. Merino-Aceituno, A. Trescases, Quaternions in collective dynamics. Submitted. Manuscript on arXiv. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Force-coupling method for fluid-structure interactions in complex fluids |
Organisation | University of Naples |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | As part of this project, we are performing the force-coupling method computations and analyzing the scheme to yield a method to effectively couple the motion of microscopic flexible structures with a viscoelastic fluid. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators at the University of Naples are performing highly resolved numerical computations to compare with our results obtained by the force-coupling method. |
Impact | We have initiated exchanges between our groups and have identified a range of test problems to be explored. The work is ongoing. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Kinetic theory of particle interactions mediated by dynamical networks. |
Organisation | University of Orleans |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We develop a multiscale analysis of a system of particles interacting through a dynamical network of links. Starting from a microscopic model, via the mean field limit, we derive coupled kinetic equations for the particle and link densities, Assuming that the process of remodelling the network is very fast, we simplify the description to a macroscopic model taking the form of single aggregation-diffusion equation for the density of particles. We analyze qualitatively this equation, addressing the stability of a homogeneous distribution of particles for a general potential. For the Hookean potential we obtain a precise condition for the phase transition, and, using the central manifold reduction, we characterize the type of bifurcation at the instability onset. |
Collaborator Contribution | All partners contributed equally to this research |
Impact | Two papers have been sumbitted: J. Barré, P. Degond, E. Zatorska, Kinetic theory of particle interactions mediated by dynamical networks. Submitted. Manuscript on arXiv and J. Barré, J. A. Carrillo de la Plata, P. Degond, D. Peurichard, E. Zatorska, Particle interactions mediated by dynamical networks: assessment of macroscopic descriptions, Submitted. Manuscript on arXiv Further studies are ongoing. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Kinetic theory of particle interactions mediated by dynamical networks. |
Organisation | University of Vienna |
Department | Faculty of Mathematics |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We develop a multiscale analysis of a system of particles interacting through a dynamical network of links. Starting from a microscopic model, via the mean field limit, we derive coupled kinetic equations for the particle and link densities, Assuming that the process of remodelling the network is very fast, we simplify the description to a macroscopic model taking the form of single aggregation-diffusion equation for the density of particles. We analyze qualitatively this equation, addressing the stability of a homogeneous distribution of particles for a general potential. For the Hookean potential we obtain a precise condition for the phase transition, and, using the central manifold reduction, we characterize the type of bifurcation at the instability onset. |
Collaborator Contribution | All partners contributed equally to this research |
Impact | Two papers have been sumbitted: J. Barré, P. Degond, E. Zatorska, Kinetic theory of particle interactions mediated by dynamical networks. Submitted. Manuscript on arXiv and J. Barré, J. A. Carrillo de la Plata, P. Degond, D. Peurichard, E. Zatorska, Particle interactions mediated by dynamical networks: assessment of macroscopic descriptions, Submitted. Manuscript on arXiv Further studies are ongoing. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Methods for Brownian particles |
Organisation | New York University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided theoretical results for the development of a fluctuating boundary integral method for highly accurate simulations of Brownian particles in Stokes flow. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided further theoretical results and a numerical implementation of the method. Performed numerical computations based on the method. |
Impact | Y Bao, M Rachh, EE Keaveny, L Greengard, and A Donev, 'A fluctuating boundary integral method for Brownian suspensions,' submitted, (2017) |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Models for self-propelled disks interacting through alignment and volume exclusion |
Organisation | University of Strasbourg |
Department | Department of Mathematics and Computer Science |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We study individual-based models describing disk-like self-propelled particles. The disk directions of motion follow alignment rules and volume exclusion interactions with their neighbors. We formally derive a macroscopic model based on self-organized hydrodynamic (SOH) models describing the transport of mass and evolution of mean direction of motion of the disks. Numerical comparisons between the individual-based and macroscopic models are carried out. These models could be applicable, for instance, to describe sperm-cell collective dynamics. |
Collaborator Contribution | All partners contributed equally to this research |
Impact | A paper has appeared: P. Degond, L. Navoret, A multi-layer model for self-propelled disks interacting through alignment and volume exclusion, Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences, 25 (2015), 2439-2475 (open access). A second one is being written. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Numerial algorithms for packing. |
Organisation | Arizona State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We consider algorithms that, from an arbitrarily sampling of N spheres (possibly overlapping), find a close packed configuration without overlapping. These problems can be formulated as minimization problems with non-convex constraints. For such packing problems, we observe that the classical algorithms do not converge. We derive a novel algorithm and compare this algorithm with classical algorithms. We provide an analysis of the convergence of these algorithms. We investigate the behaviour of our algorithm when the number of spheres is large in two and three spatial dimensions |
Collaborator Contribution | Each partner contributed equally to this research |
Impact | A research paper has appeared: P. Degond, M. A. Ferreira, S. Motsch, Damped Arrow-Hurwicz algorithm for sphere packing. Journal of Computational Physics, 332 (2017), pp. 47-65 (open access). A second paper is being written and future works are in preparation. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Symmetry-breaking phase-transitions in highly concentrated semen |
Organisation | French National Institute of Agricultural Research |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The project is about producing an automated assessment process of semen fertility, based on the massal motility as a fertility indicator. Depositing fresh semen sample in an annular shaped microfluidic chip leads to a spontaneous vortex state of the fluid at sufficiently large sperm concentration. The rotation occurs unpredictably clockwise or counterclockwise and is robust and stable. The rotation speed gives an objective measurement of mass motility. Our team proposed the design of the experiment, conceived the model and did the numerical simulations. |
Collaborator Contribution | They realized the experiments and the measurements. |
Impact | A paper has appeared: A. Creppy, F. Plouraboué, O. Praud, X. Druart, S. Cazin, H. Yu, P. Degond, Symmetry-breaking phase-transitions in highly concentrated semen, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 13 (2016), 20160575. A European patent has been filed. This collaboration is multidisciplinary: it involves mathematicians (our team), physicists (the team from IMFT) and biologists (the team from INRA). |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Symmetry-breaking phase-transitions in highly concentrated semen |
Organisation | National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) |
Department | UMR 5502 Institute of Fluid Mechanics of Toulouse |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The project is about producing an automated assessment process of semen fertility, based on the massal motility as a fertility indicator. Depositing fresh semen sample in an annular shaped microfluidic chip leads to a spontaneous vortex state of the fluid at sufficiently large sperm concentration. The rotation occurs unpredictably clockwise or counterclockwise and is robust and stable. The rotation speed gives an objective measurement of mass motility. Our team proposed the design of the experiment, conceived the model and did the numerical simulations. |
Collaborator Contribution | They realized the experiments and the measurements. |
Impact | A paper has appeared: A. Creppy, F. Plouraboué, O. Praud, X. Druart, S. Cazin, H. Yu, P. Degond, Symmetry-breaking phase-transitions in highly concentrated semen, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 13 (2016), 20160575. A European patent has been filed. This collaboration is multidisciplinary: it involves mathematicians (our team), physicists (the team from IMFT) and biologists (the team from INRA). |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Topological interactions in a Boltzmann-type framework |
Organisation | University of Toulouse |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We consider a model for particles interacting through topological interactions. This means that the interaction probability of a particle with another one is a function of the proximity rank of the latter with respect to the former, and not of the metric distance between them. Topological interactions have been shown to rule many natural phenomena, such as the interactions between birds in a flock. We study the limit of a system size going to infinity and show that the limit model is ruled by an equation of the Boltzmann type. This is the first time that a Boltzmann type equation is obtained for topological interactions |
Collaborator Contribution | All partners have contributed equally at all stages of this partnership. |
Impact | A publication has appeared: A. Blanchet, P. Degond, Topological interactions in a Boltzmann-type framework, Journal of Statistical Physics, 163 (2016), pp. 41-60 (open access). Another publication will soon be finalized |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | continuum model for nematic alignment of self-propelled particles |
Organisation | University of Vienna |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A continuum model for a population of self-propelled particles interacting through nematic alignment is derived from an individual-based model. The methodology consists of introducing a hydrodynamic scaling of the corresponding mean-field kinetic equation. The resulting perturbation problem is solved thanks to the concept of generalized collision invariants. It yields a hyperbolic but non-conservative system of equations for the nematic mean direction of the flow and the densities of particles flowing parallel or anti-parallel to this mean direction. Diffusive terms are introduced under a weakly non-local interaction assumption and the diffusion coefficient is proven to be positive. An application to the modeling of myxobacteria is outlined. |
Collaborator Contribution | All partners have contributed equally at all stages of this research. |
Impact | A paper has appeared: P. Degond, A. Manhart, H. Yu, A continuum model for nematic alignment of self-propelled particles, Discrete and Continuum Dynamical Systems Series B, 22 (2017), pp. 1295-1327 (open access). Another one has been submitted: P. Degond, A. Manhart, H. Yu, An age-structured continuum model for myxobacteria, submitted. Manuscript on arXiv. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Title | Filament model software |
Description | This is a Matlab implementation of the filament models that we have developed to simulate our sperm-mucin network interactions. The can be found: https://github.com/ekeaveny/filaments . |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | n/a to date |
Description | (In preparation) Oberwolfach snapshot (article for broad audience) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Article in the "Oberwolfach snapshot" explaining for a broad audience the applications of kinetic theory to biology. This article is in preparation and it started at a workshop in Oberwolfach in December 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Applied Mathematics Seminar at the University of Wisconsin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The results from the project were presented to leading researchers on the mathematical modelling of fluid-structure interations in biology and their PhD students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics Seminar, University of Michigan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Results from the project were presented during the Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics seminar at the University of Michigan. In the audience were leading experts in fluid dynamics applied to biological systems, as well as other problems in biomathematics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BioActive Fluids Seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was an online seminar organised by the UK Fluids Network SIG in BioActive Fluids. There were approximately 40 attendees and the talk is now on YouTube for others to view. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | British Society of Rheology Midwinter Meeting, Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The results from the project were presented to leading researchers in rheology and the mathematical modelling of fluid-structure interactions and their PhD students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Computational Science and Engineering Seminar -- University of Leeds |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a research seminar aimed at promoting and explaining the methodology developed as part of this project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Conference presentation at APS DFD 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a conference presentation to an audience of 40 specialists. Discussions and questions were had after the presentation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Conference presentation at ICIAM 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Approximated 30 researchers attended my talk. The grant outcomes were discussed after the talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | DAMTP Fluids Seminar at the University of Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a research seminar at the University of Cambridge during which results of the project were presented and questions on them were taken. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | ESAM Colloquium Northwestern University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The talk was given online to 20 researchers at Northwestern University in the USA. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics Seminar at Northwestern University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Results were presented to an audience of researchers in Applied Mathematics, included several with expertise in mathematical biology (neural networks and biofilm growth) and fluid mechanics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Fluid Dynamics Seminar -- University of Leeds |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented research related to the project to other researchers in Fluid Dynamics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | GCSE Maths In Action |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Speaker at regional schools engagement event to talk about the project and the role of mathematics in food and human biology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Imperial Lates |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The results from the project were presented to the general public in an open event at Imperial College, which sparked discussions and questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Jerudong International School, Brunei |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Visit to international school to talk about the project and the role of mathematics in food and human biology, and to take part in a panel on careers in science and research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Mathematical Biology Seminar at the University of Minnesota |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Results from the project were presented to leading researchers in mathematical biology and the mechanics of cells. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Max Planck Institute Winter School Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presented an overview of the fluid mechanics of microscale propulsion to PhD students. It was a 2 lecture series. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | NJIT Applied Mathematic Colloquium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was an online Colloquium hosted by the Mathematics Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Public lecture at ICMS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public lecture at the occasion of the workshop 'Collective dynamics and self-organization in biological sciences', International Cente for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), Edinburgh, May 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Public lecture at UFF, Brasil |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Public lecture for mathematics undergraduate students at Instituto de Matema´tica e Estati´stica (IME) da Universidade Federal Fluminense, Campus do Gragoata´, Nitero´i, Brasil, August 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering 2019, Spokane |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The results from the project were presented to leading researchers on the mathematical modelling of fluid-structure interactions in biology and their PhD students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |