UMass Boston

Course Overview

Description

Environmental Modeling introduces upper classman and graduate students to the ways in which mathematical models are used to better understand changing environmental systems. This course will be of particular interest to students of life and environmental science who have an interest in computational analysis. Applications, such as linear and non-linear population dynamics, and infectious disease spread provide a foundation for building models that describe the interactions between any number of environmental factors. Through building and applying mathematical models to physical systems, one will gain an understanding of the concepts of stability, equilibria, linearization, oscillating behavior and chaos as they relate to observed environmental phenomena. The systems studied in this course are modeled using difference equations, allowing the student to quickly develop the skills needed to build their own mathematical models. Computer programs provide a means for graphical analysis of solutions to the models developed. This allows one to perform sensitivity analysis on models and provides a foundation upon which one can build more complex models. The tools learned in this course will be useful for students in the environmental and life sciences who have an interest in both understanding and building mathematical models. This course is also one that will complement the academic program of a student studying applied mathematics, applied computational science, environmental engineering or environmental physics.

Prerequisites

MATH 135 or MATH 145 or MATH 140 or permission from the instructor