Background and Objectives

Differential equations have played a central role in Applied Mathematics for more than a century. With the advent of the computer their importance has increased rather than diminished. Throughout science and engineering and far beyond, scientific computation is taking place, e.g., in computational fluid dynamics in physics and in applications of the finite element method in mechanical engineering. At the heart of this modelling lie differential equations.

The investigation of differential equations arising in applications has lead to many deep mathematical problems. These are often pursued without any applications in mind but sometimes turn out to be of great importance to new applications. The Centre attaches equal importance to the development of mathematical techniques and to their application.

Through some of its research activities, the Centre is strengthening its long established links with other Irish differential equations experts, the European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry and other international collaborations. In Ireland, the Centre is in a position to offer advice to some of the emerging small high-tech companies which require such advice on asymptotic or numerical approaches to differential equations.