Population Dynamics and Statistical Physics in Synergy

Abstract

Research at the interface between population dynamics and statistical physics has been developing rapidly, and represents a theme of growing interest worldwide. Population dynamics addresses fundamental questions about the cooperative behaviour controlling multi-type interacting populations subject to evolutionary forces in changing environments. Statistical physics is concerned with the macroscopic behaviour of systems with many interacting components, and with the role of emergent behaviour and phase transitions. Fundamental ideas, methods and techniques have gradually made their way from one field into the other, leading to new problems, new solutions, and new mathematics. This crossroad has developed into a very active research area. In the workshop the focus was on common mathematical concepts and tools, and on the surprising new connections that have become available recently.