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PROGRAMME INFO |
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Professor Jacquie McGlade forges her art of mathematics with insights from the natural world, producing some important lessons us all.Β The topics include why hospital design could encourage the spread of infection, how statistics rarely reveal a true cause, and the art of growing a straighter carrot.
nhuradio@bbc.co.uk |
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LISTEN AGAIN 30 min |
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PRESENTER |
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"Beneath the surface of the natural world there lies an intricate web of rules about life. Revealing these is my greatest passion, and one of the most exciting adventures on earth."
Jacquie McGlade |
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PROGRAMME DETAILS |
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Growing a straight carrot.
Mathematics describes the competition between individual plants asΒ "biggest is best!", but Jacquie McGlade's models take this a step further. They explain how to plant crops for the best results. Recently completed trials have found a technique for sowing cereals and vegetables that allow the crop to out compete weeds. The weeds are there, but they are kept small through natural plant aggression. In both the developed and undeveloped world the need for herbicides might be a thing of the past.
Jacquie also describes the emergent properties of "the system" which can explain why a dinner party can take off at one time, and fail at another, even if the food and guests are the same. Understanding what makes populations of items "hum" leads us to understand the future of the internet, crowd control - and how to have a great dinner party! |
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