Engineering Biology and Theoretical Ecology

Title:	Engineering Biology and Theoretical Ecology
Category:	Miscellaneous
Detail:	Joint Engineering/Microbiology Seminar
Date:	18. May 2010, 16:00 - 17:00
Venue:	Eawag Dübendorf
	Forum Chriesbach C24
Speaker:	Prof. Tom Curtis, Newcastle University
Leader:	Eberhard Morgenroth, Eawag
Download:	as calendar event

"There is nothing so practical as a really good theory" (quote attributed to Boltzmann) and microbial ecologist and environmental engineers study systems of literally astronomical complexity and profound practical importance need a better theoretical basis for our work.

In this talk I will show some of our work on the synthesis of theory and measurement and demonstrate how it can help us to not only rationally explore the microbial world, but hopefully to predict and manipulate it.

Much of the theory I will talk about is derived from the "neutral community models" adapted to the scale and demands of the microbial world. However, these models only come alive when supported by data and I will show how this is possible using classical molecular techniques and the new generation of pyrosequencing data. Hopefully showing how the latter also needs a helping hand from mathematicians. Not withstanding my incessant use of the word theory.

I will illustrate my talk with as many practical applications as possible!