Mathematical Concepts and Methods in Modern Biology

Preface

In its report, A New Biology for the 21st Century,¹ the National Research Council defines the essence of the New Biology as “…re-integration of the many sub-disciplines of biology, and the integration into biology of physicists, chemists, computer scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to create a research community with the capacity to tackle a broad range of scientific and societal problems.” The report stipulates that “…the emergence of the New Biology signals the need for changes in how scientists are educated and trained” and calls for substantive changes in interdisciplinary education at the junction of mathematics and biology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This report echoes many of the recommendations of an ...