• Assistant Professor
    • Robbin Bastiaansen
    • Universiteit Utrecht
    • Dynamical Systems

Behaviour of Spatial Patterns

Many natural and societal systems exhibit spatial patterns. Examples include the stripes of a zebra, herding of animals, city formation, patterns in vegetation and crime patterns. In this talk, I will give an overview of the mathematical theory of pattern formation. I will illustrate how spatial patterns can emerge, either spontaneously or driven by forcing, and subsequently I will show how their time-evolution can be understood. While doing this, we visit various example systems, and see for example how spatial patterning might play a role in climate tipping points and why your favorite ice cream just does not stay soft in your freezer.

About

Robbin Bastiaansen is an assistant professor at Utrecht University with a joint appointment between the Mathematical Institute and the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU). His research focusses on dynamical systems theory and its applications for climate (sub)systems and ecosystems, in particular their response to climatic changes. This is mostly done using conceptual models, and his work includes research on how spatial effects, such as spatial pattern formation, could influence the response of climate- and ecosystems.

Robbins Homepage