Mathematics for Science students

Do you know what the following have in common: genetic mutation, heart disease, noise in lasers, the rings of Saturn, the population explosion, chemical mixtures which change colour in a periodic way, optical switches, the structure of rocks, solitons, epidemics? They are all topics to which the mathematical theory of nonlinear equations - more popularly known as chaos - has contributed significantly. But chaos theory is not the only branch of mathematics that is important in wide range of sciences. Mathematics is the language of science, and the study of any science requires some degree of mathematical reasoning and understanding.

The Science Mathematics modules provide a good general mathematical basis for all science students, and Mathematics, in both Junior and Senior Freshman years is a prerequisite for the moderatorships in Physics, Chemistry with Molecular Modelling, `Nanoscience, physics and chemistry of advanced materials' and in Human Genetics. The Junior Freshman modules are required for the Moderatorship course in Medicinal Chemistry.

Within the Moderatorship Courses in Science (common entry, code TR071), mathematics may be studied as in the Junior Freshman year (up to 20 credits from a total of 60) and students who complete the maximum amount of mathematics in their Junior Freshman may continue with mathematics into the Senior Freshman year (up to 20 credits).

Mathematics is an important topic for all Moderatorship paths in Science, but conflicting priorities mean that some students take a very limited amount of mathematics credits.

The mathematics subject modules for Science (TR071) are also studied in their Junior Freshman year by students of the Moderatorship courses in Human Genetics (TR073), in Chemistry with molecular modelling (TR074), in Nanoscience, physics and chemistry of advanced materials TR076

Students of the Moderatorship programmes in  Earth Sciences, and in  Human health and disease (TR056) take the mathematics module MA1M01 in their first term, but no further mathematics modules.

Depending on their preferred choice for moderatorship and subject choice in the Senior Freshman year, Science students who take the Mathematics sequence MA1S11/MA1S12 in the Juinior Freshman year may choose more advanced Mathematics modules in their Senior Freshman year.

For Junior Freshman Science students do not take either MA1S11 or the sequence MA1S11/MA1S12, there is also a (10 credit) module MA1M01 (mathematical methods).

Mathematics for Science Students 2012-13

Note that these details are not yet final and are still subject to change.

Junior Freshman Year

Those taking Mathematics for the maximum 20 possible 20 credits subject take

• MA1S11 Mathematics for Scientists (first semester) Lecturers: Prof. Richard Timoney, Prof. Stefan Sint
• MA1S12 Mathematics for Scientists (second semester) Lecturers: Prof. Sergey Mozgovoy, Prof. Colm Ó Dúnlaing

Those not taking Mathematics as a full subject take

MA1M01 Mathematical Methods Lecturers: Prof. Nicolas Garron, Prof. Sinéad Ryan

Senior Freshman Year

Michaelmas term

• MA22S1 Multivariable calculus for science [prerequisite: MA11S2] Lecturer: Prof. Masha Vlasenko
• MA22S3 Fourier analysis for science [prerequisite: MA11S2] Lecturer: Prof. Darran McManus

Those choosing both Mathematics and Physics take both modules. Each module has 5 credits.

Hilary term

• MA22S2 Vector calculus for science [prerequisite: MA22S1, MA22S3] Lecturer: Dr. Joe Ó hÓgáin
• MA22S4 Mechanics [prerequisite: MA22S1] Lecturer: Dr. Brendan Redmond
• MA22S6 Numerical and data analysis techniques [prerequisite: MA11S2] Lecturer: Prof. Nicolas Garron

Those choosing both Mathematics and Physics take modules MA22S3 and MA22S4. Modules MA22S4 and MA22S6 will clash and cannot be taken together. Each module has 5 credits.

Foundation Scholarship examination

For the information on the Foundation Scholarship examination in Mathematics, see here.

Further Information

The Science Course web pages are a good place for information.

This course is funded by the Irish government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and aided by the European Social Fund (ESF) under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013.