This is a dynamic document, SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please check back regularly.

Day Date Topic Readings Assignment
(Tentative dates)
Notes
1
 Thurs 09 September Introduction/logistics; Fermi problems

2
 Mon 13 September Lab: introduction to R
  • Send me an e-mail via Avenue. Tell me your name, how you prefer to be addressed, specialization, future career target (if known), previous experience with programming (if any), and why you are taking the class. Also tell me whether you can bring a laptop (or know someone in class you'd like to share with), and what OS (and version) you are running.
  • Install R on your computer and bring it to class [links to installers for Windows (optionally install Tinn-R); MacOS; Linux]. If you have previously installed R on your computer, make sure you have the latest version (2.11.1).
3
 Tues 14 September Overview/discussion of modeling; discrete-time deterministic linear models; equilibria and stability Perry, "Examsmanship" (A2L); MS pp. 9-30
notes (PDF, HTML, Sweave)
4
 Thurs 16 September Nonlinear models; cobwebbing
 MS pp 31-38
notes (PDF, HTML, Sweave)
5
 Mon 20 September Lab/HW 1: chapter 1 projectsD/D


6
 Tues 21 September More nonlinear stuff
Intro to R problems due
7
 Thurs 23 September More nonlinear stuff



8
 Mon 27 September Introduction to probability and distributions (part I)

9
 Tues 28 September Finish discrete-time nonlinear models

Ch. 1 projects, Ricker function analysis due
10
 Thurs 30 September Probability and distributions continued

notes (PDF, HTML, Sweave)
11
 Mon 04 October Probability and distributions continued


12
 Tues 05 October Stochastic dynamic models
Lab 2 due
13
 Thurs 07 October Stochastic dynamic models

epidemic models

Mon
 11 October
 Thanksgiving: no class
14
 Tues 12 October Lab: help/review (BMB absent)
Chapter 2 projects due
15
 Thurs 14 October Midterm exam (in class)
Midterm exam 
16
 Mon 18 October Multivariate discrete models I MS pp 47-70

17
 Tues 19 October Multivariate discrete models II: Markov chains MS pp 70-82
linear models
18
 Thurs 21 October Multivariate discrete models, continued


19
 Mon 25 October More multivariate models
Project proposals due
20
 Tues 26 October Applying models: parameters, uncertainty

about parameters
21
 Thurs 28 October Univariate continuous-time models (ODEs): analytical solutions

notes, supp. notes (derivations)
22
 Mon 01 November Numerical solutions of ODEs
Project votes due
23
 Tues 02 November Systems of linear ODEs


24
 Thurs 04 November Graphical approaches to bivariate ODEs


25
 Mon 08 November ODEs continued


26
 Tues 09 November Linearization and stability of systems of ODEs


27
 Thurs 11 November Paper discussion


28
 Mon 15 November Work on projects


29
 Tues 16 November Work on projects


30
 Thurs 18 November Paper discussion


31
 Mon 22 November Work on projects


32
 Tues 23 November Work on projects


33
 Thurs 25 November (BMB absent)


34
 Mon 29 November Work on projects


35
 Tues 30 November Work on projects


36
 Thurs 02 December Paper discussion


37
 Mon 06 December Feedback/review
Project writeups due