Nonlinear Science — The Impact of Biology

Nonlinear science has primarily developed from applications of mathematics to physics. The biological sciences are emerging as the dominant growth points of science and technology, and biological systems are characterized by being information dense, spatially extended, organized in interacting hierarchies, and rich in diversity. These characteristics, linked with an increase in available computing power and accessible memory, may lead to a nonlinear science of complicated interacting systems that will link different types of mathematical objects within a framework of algebraic models of computing systems. Examples, drawn from current work on intracellular, cellular, tissue, organ, and integrative physiology of an individual, are outlined within the theory of synchronous concurrent algorithms. Possible directions in population dynamics and applications to ecosystem management are outlined.