Newcastle University Discipline Hopping for Discovery Science 2022

Lead Research Organisation: Newcastle University
Department Name: Sch of Natural & Environmental Sciences

Abstract

Newcastle University will use the funding for 'Cross-disciplinary research for Discovery Science' to support discipline-hopping activities with the goal to improve understanding of different cross-disciplinary research perspectives and methodologies, enabling new knowledge and discoveries within the environmental sciences.
 
Description Collaboration between ecologists and mathematicians on understanding invasive species and disease spread dynamics. 
Organisation Newcastle University
Department School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Mathematical modelling skills
Collaborator Contribution Understanding of the ecology of invasive species and diseases
Impact 1. Combining Ecology, Mathematics and Physics to Inform Sustainable Agriculture The aim of the project was to identify and develop methods from mathematics and physics to inform sustainable agro-ecosystem management and improve food system resilience. The project consisted of two groups of activites. Firstly, Dr Fredric Windsor (FW) and Dr Laura Wadkin (LW) (both postdoctoral research associates) completed a 2 month period of exchange between the two departments involved in the grant (Natural and Environmental Sciences, and Mathematics, Statistics and Physics). Secondly, workshops and meetings were organised to increase interactions between researchers in the two departments and beyond, including the Co-Investigators Dr James Kitson (JK), Prof Andrew Baggaley (AB), Prof Darren Evans (DE) and Prof Clive Emary (CE). Over the two months, the following activities were undertaken: • Three small group workshops to discuss ideas and future research the (previously unconnected) Network Ecology and Mathematical Biology research groups; • An interdisciplinary workshop across Newcastle University to hear about and discuss research at the interface of mathematics, physics and environmental sciences (>30 attendees) and to horizon-scan opportunities for collaborative research; • Further developed a method for predicting species interactions from temporal datasets of species abundances (FW and CE); • Adapted a population front model to predict the future spread of oak processionary moth across the UK (LW, DE, AB); • Shared data from ecological systems to provide a basis for future work; • Created a mailing list within Newcastle University to link together researchers working at the interface of mathematics and other disciplines (>40 contacts). In addition to those mentioned above, new connections were also formed as follows: • Two research groups both working on the spread and control of the invasive oak processionary moth now have plans to integrate parasitoid dynamics into a model to predict the future spread of the moth; • Researchers in School of History, Classics and Archaeology and Natural and Environmental Sciences now have plans to investigate the effects of upland agriculture on paleofauna in the bronze age; • A wider network of people interested in working at the interface of mathematics, physics and environmental sciences (reach of over 50 people). 2. Ancient DNA (aDNA) Discipline Hopping This award has allowed us to form a link between our Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences (School of Geography, Politics and Sociology) and Science, Agriculture and Engineering (School of Natural and Environmental Sciences), building personal relationships and new collaborations. Visiting researcher Dr Doreen Huang (Umeå University) was also brought into the project. We have also made new links outside of Newcastle University with aDNA researchers in the Department of Archaeology at Durham University.
Start Year 2022