The onset of the Mathematical Engineering Research Center at Universidad de Concepción, at work since 1998 with researchers from Universidad de Chile who created CMM in 2000 from a Fondap program on Applied Mathematics supported by Conicyt. Professors from Concepción continued their tasks as external researchers for the CMM leading the numerical analysis area. As Gabriel Gatica, Professor from the Mathematical Engineering department and director of CI2MA, explains “We always intended to create our own center which was achieved thanks to the Universidad de Concepción and baseline grants financed by Conicyt in conjunction with the Center for Mathematical Modeling.”
On April 24, 2009, the center is officially created with the goal to create and execute research and development programs in Mathematical Engineering within the context of excellence, providing services and injecting first-hand mathematical knowledge and to be a robust generator of knowledge to better contribute to improving training programs for professional and graduate students.
Currently twelve professionals make-up the CI2MA: these had been working with the CMM in numerical analysis, in addition to other professors from the Mathematical Engineering department who have been working on non-linear analysis and partial differential equations; discreet mathematics, optimization and variation calculations; discreet dynamic systems and probability theories and stochastic processes. On the short term the new center expects to gather active applied researchers to the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics of Universidad de Concepción in order to work for excellence in research and to reach both the scientific community and the productive and service sectors and consequently, become a national consultation and referral center.
In reference to its relationship with CMM, the Director indicated that their hope to is to strengthen their links with both centers, continue on a cooperation path in the academics and research areas, extending into sectors such as modeling, mathematical analysis and computer simulations of phenomena.
CI2MA has proposed to undertake other tasks such as including researchers from other faculties, particularly Engineering, to create an interdisciplinary team and links with industries and ministries. “Applied mathematics is present in practically every job, medicine, social sciences, biological sciences and economy; mathematical modeling can partake in each industry, ” he stated.
In addition to mathematicians, engineers and researchers from other areas, the expectation is to work with thesis students and pre-graduates. Therefore, the center has a Mathematics Engineering Doctorate program in addition to the Civil Engineering in Mathematics program expecting to create links with other students from other faculties at Universidad de Concepción.
Currently, researchers from CI2MA are developing solutions for the industry; one of which uses discreet mathematics to resolve a production activity programming problem faced by the Steel Company Huachipato, in addition to working on numerical analysis with Metallurgical Engineers. The Center is linked to a project on sedimentation with various copper mining companies.
To summarize, the expectation of interaction amongst the various players in research will bring about positive results in research and a balance between theory, computer simulations and applications, which will translate into development for CI2MA, allowing for the consolidation of the center for excellence both domestically and internationally.
