In early November, the ICM and the CRM organized a 4-day workshop to discover the potential crossroads between both disciplines.
In a bid to revolutionize scientific synergy, the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) and the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) recently orchestrated a pivotal gathering in November. This unprecedented collaboration sought to intertwine the realms of mathematics and marine sciences, laying the groundwork for an unprecedented alliance.
The crux of this union was an exploratory meeting where the intellectual prowess of researchers from both institutions converged. This meeting wasn’t just an exchange of ideas; it was a purposeful convergence aimed at uncovering the potential intersection points between these fields, ripe for transformation and innovation.
During 4 intense days, organized in two legs of two days at each institution, researchers working in a diversity of disciplines exchanged their research ideas and challenges and discussed how collaborations between marine sciences and mathematics could push forward their knowledge.
“This initiative has shown the potential of establishing fruitful collaborations between complementary disciplines to move towards multidisciplinary science, which is necessary to advance the science we need to face the environmental challenges we have”, stats Marta Coll, from ICM.
Exploring New Horizons: Uniting Expertise
At the ICM leg of the meeting, Valentí Sallarès, ICM’s Director, emphasized the use of mathematical tools in many of the studies already developed at ICM and the interest to develop collaborative studies with CRM colleagues. At the CRM leg of the meeting, Lluís Alsedà, CRM's Director, set the stage by underscoring the relevance of mathematical research in today's context. He emphasized the CRM's pivotal role in catalyzing high-caliber research and nurturing inclusive mathematical ecosystems.
During the 4 days, contributions were presented by researchers from both institutions. From ICM, Pierre Ramond and Francesc Piferrer introduced the complexities they face when studying the ocean microbiome and fish genomics using maths. Antonio Villaseñor presented key studies to enhance earthquake detection and geomorphological analysis through AI integration, and Jonas Ruh introduced improved modelling and optimization tools in marine geosciences.
From her side, Evgeniia Makarova delved into the intricacies of machine learning in rectifying biases in sea-surface wind forecasts. Manuel Arias, from the ICM, explored the fusion of Earth Observation data with AI, presenting case studies showcasing the prowess of deep learning models in addressing marine ecological challenges. Estela Jimenez discussed seismic data inversion software for subsurface imaging, while Francisco Ramirez highlighted optimization processes in understanding marine species' movements. Finally, Ivan Masmitjà unveiled AI models revolutionizing marine vehicle and organism tracking.
From CRM, Pere Puig presented capture-recapture methods in ecology, focusing on the non-parametric estimator of Chao. Álvaro Corral introduced new mathematical laws to describe the spatial distribution of individuals. Lluís Alsedà introduced the use of social tipping point identification to study Audouin’s gull in Ebre’s River Delta. Jezabel Curbelo, affiliated with CRM and UPC, showcased the possibilities of joint scientific activities, focusing on the application of Lagrangian techniques in oceanography. Finally, Josep Sardanyés shed light on the MPA4Sustainability initiative, aiming to bolster Marine Protected Areas for biodiversity conservation.
The event culminated in reflections from Lluís Alsedà and Valentí Sallarès, ICM's Director, lauding the initiative’s success in laying the foundation for future collaborative endeavors. This meeting signified the potential of merging diverse disciplines to tackle global challenges and preserve our planet’s ecosystems.