Life in equations

IQS has launched the lecture series «Life in Equations», an initiative aimed at showcasing its research activity in the field of applied mathematics and fostering its growth. With this project, the university institution seeks to establish itself as a reference center in modeling and computational simulation applied to key sectors of everyday life such as health, industry, culture, and social behavior.

Life in equations: From planet to particle (2026)

Dr. Miquel de Cáceres

Modelling water balance, carbon balance and vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean forest ecosystems

The second edition of the cycle began on March 25 with the conference of Dr. Miquel de Cáceres, Ramón y Cajal researcher at the Forestry Technology Center of Catalonia (CTFC), at the CSIC and at CREAF (UAB). Mediterranean forests are characterized by suffering a serious water deficit during the summer every year, which limits photosynthesis, plant growth and increases vulnerability to the impacts of severe forest fires. The talk discussed the biophysical, physiological and ecological processes involved in the water balance, carbon balance and forest dynamics of the Mediterranean ecosystem, as well as the modeling based on these processes.

Dr. Jordi Mazón

Does aridity influence the perception of urban cleanliness?… and other issues of urban physics

On April 20, the second conference was given by Dr. Jordi Mazón, professor in the Department of Physics at the UPC. Cities are complex ecosystems, home to nearly 60% of the population, occupying 3% of the planet’s surface. Two-thirds of the world’s energy is consumed there, and around 70% of greenhouse gas emissions are generated. Cities have their own climate, the result of the modification of the meteorological variables of the environment. The conference focused on this urban framework, which will analyze the mathematical relationships between different physical and social variables. Specifically, the mathematical model that relates aridity and the perception of urban cleanliness, the distribution of raindrop size, the relationship between atmospheric CO2 fixed by urban trees and trunk diameter, and the distribution of some atmospheric variables in urban geography will be described.

Dra. Beatriz Eguzkitza

Towards specific respiratory models for each patient: multiscale simulations using high performance computing (HPC) of airflow and aerosol transport

On May 12, the series closed with a lecture by Dr. Beatriz Eguzkitza, researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. By solving complex fluid mechanics equations, we can obtain fundamental information about lung function and respiratory health. However, solving these equations in the intricate geometry of the human airways requires enormous computational power; therefore, the BSC’s high-performance computing (HPC) facilities provide the essential infrastructure to carry out this research. We addressed the various challenges inherent in this field, from the reconstruction of complex geometries to the modeling of multiphysics and multiscale phenomena. Finally, we highlighted key applications where this knowledge constitutes the cornerstone to drive advances in global healthcare and personalized medicine.

Life in equations: From Atoms to Organisms (2025)

Dr. Miquel Duran-Frigola

The Ersilia Model Hub Open Source AI for Antimicrobial Drug Discovery

The cycle began on February 26 with a lecture by Dr. Miquel Duran-Frigola, researcher and co-founder of the Ersilia Open Source Initiative, who discussed the use of artificial intelligence in drug design against malaria and tuberculosis in South Africa. Ersilia is a non-profit organization that provides AI tools to laboratories in low-income countries to research infectious diseases. In its three years of operation, it has facilitated access to predictive models in medicinal chemistry, focusing on pathogens from the Global South.

Dr. Víctor Guallar

Artificial Intelligence and Molecular Modelling in Drug Discovery

On March 25, the second lecture was given by Dr. Víctor Guallar, ICREA Professor at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. Artificial intelligence is transforming the drug discovery process, revolutionizing the way new therapeutic molecules are designed. In this talk, Dr. Guallar explores how the combination of traditional molecular modeling with advanced AI algorithms has enabled the acceleration of developing new treatments that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

Dr. James Sharpe

Understanding Limb Development Through Computer Modelling

On April 28, the third lecture was given by Dr. James Sharpe, director of EMBL Barcelona. Limb development is one of the most powerful model systems for studying organogenesis. Thanks to the latest advances in omics and imaging technologies, we now have enormous amounts of data. However, truly understanding these complex biological systems requires something more: mathematical models capable not only of representing and predicting, but also of explaining the dynamic behaviors that occur over time. In this lecture, Dr. Sharpe presented how his team uses computational modeling to describe and explore mechanistic hypotheses about embryonic limb development, with the aim of advancing toward a deeper understanding of developmental biology.

Dra. Clara Prats

Models and epidemics: interdisciplinarity for smarter health

On June 3, the fourth conference was given by Dr. Clara Prats, professor of physics at the UB and coordinator of the BIOCOM-CS research group. In an increasingly interconnected and complex world, public health faces challenges that require innovative and collaborative solutions, as became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this talk, we explored how mathematical and computational modeling can shed light on the dynamics of epidemics and other key areas related to health.
The potential of models to understand complex systems, anticipate scenarios and support decision-making was highlighted, from an interdisciplinary perspective that connects mathematics, engineering, biomedicine and public health.