Explore UCD

UCD Home >

ACM30090

Academic Year 2024/2025

Mathematical Biology (ACM30090)

Subject:
Applied & Computational Maths
College:
Science
School:
Mathematics & Statistics
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Áine Byrne
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The aim of this module is to introduce the tools required to mathematically model and analyse biological systems. The module will cover topics such as:
• Population growth and decay
• Infectious disease models
• Cellular biology
• Biological oscillations
• Tumour modelling

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module students should:
• Be familiar with a range of mathematical techniques used for modelling and analysing biological systems
• Have a good understanding of how maths can be used to understand and explore biological systems
• Be able to construct and interpret a set of ordinary differential equations to describe different biological scenarios
• Be comfortable simulating a mathematical model in Python
• Be able to critically analyse a scientific paper


Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

30

Autonomous Student Learning

36

Lectures

24

Tutorial

12

Total

102


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, tutorials, enquiry and problem-based learning.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students must take ACM30190 in the Autumn to register for this module in Spring. In addition, they should have taken ACM10060 or ACM10100 and ACM20150 prior to taking this course.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
ACM10060 - Appl of Differential Equations, ACM10100 - Differential & Diff Equations, ACM20150 - Vector Calculus

Additional Information:
Student must have taken ACM10060 or ACM10100


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Written and coding based assignments Week 5, Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
No
Individual Project: Research based project Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
No
Exam (Open Book): Final exam (semi-open book) End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Mathematical Biology, by James D. Murray
Essential Mathematical Biology, by Nicholas F. Britton

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 10:00 - 10:50