No Surprise Here: Europeans Stress Importance of Using Best Modern Mathematical Methods

July 5, 2007

That only the most efficient mathematical methods for modeling and simulation should be used within EU-funded projects was the consensus presented to representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, and related institutions and agencies, who recently met in Brussels.

Five directors of leading European research institutions — Heinz W. Engl, Linz; Robert M. Mattheij, Eindhoven; Marek Niezgodka, Warsaw; Alfio Quarteroni, Lausanne/Milan; Jürgen Sprekels, Berlin — provided examples of what they described as contexts and opportunities for applied mathematics, illustrated with case studies from medicine, metallurgy, production, optical technologies, and other endeavors.

One successful application centered on the America's Cup. Experts estimated that because of computational fluid dynamics research — advanced numerical methods used by the successful Swiss Alinghi America's Cup syndicate — a boat's drag was reduced by up to 5 percent. Because a one percent difference in a boat's resistance can account for a gain or loss of more than 30 seconds in a race, such improvements could make the difference between winning and losing.

Indeed, Alinghi went on to defeat Emirates Team New Zealand in the 32nd America's Cup, winning the race that decided the championship by just one second.

Another successful application came from finance, where modern numerical methods were shown to have helped speedily analyze and reduce market risks to investments involving several million million euros.

The case studies demonstrate that even small improvements can be economically important. But, the research directors warned, simulation methods commonly used in Europe often aren't optimal. Only the most efficient mathematical methods should be used, they recommended, with more support for applied mathematics research to develop improved techniques.

For additional information and examples, go to the Weierstrass Institute website.

Source: AlphaGalileo, July 3, 2007