The Bonn Center for Mathematical Life Sciences (BCML) was founded by the professors Alexander Effland, Jan Hasenauer and Kevin Thurley of the Interdisciplinary Research Unit (IRU) Mathematics & Life Sciences and Prof. Anton Bovier from the Institute for Applied Mathematics. The purpose of the center is to conduct joint interdisciplinary research on mathematical and life science problems.
The opening event of the BCML took place in the historical premises of the university’s main building, the Senate and Ballroom, on November 8 2024. The spokesperson of the BCML, Jan Hasenauer, welcomed the 60 guests. In their welcoming speeches, the university’s Vice Rector for Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Prof. Irmgard Förster, and the deans of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the Medical Faculty, Prof. Walter Witke and Prof. Bernd Weber, emphasized the importance of the BCML for interdisciplinary research.
Prof. Rudi Balling from the University Hospital Bonn gave the opening lecture, with very entertaining reflections on his time in Luxembourg, where he built up the Centre for Systems Medicine, drawing some parallels to the establishment of the BCML.
With two more invited talks by Prof. Stefania Petra from the University of Augsburg and Prof. Frederik Graw from the University of Erlangen and several short talks, the participants were offered an impression of the wide range of research projects at the intersection of mathematics and life sciences.
The scientific program was followed by a reception with food and drinks in a nice atmosphere for further discussions and networking.