Welcome to the Azimuth Project!
The Azimuth Project is a group effort to study the mathematical sciences for “saving the planet.” Our goal is to make clearly presented topic literature, and to help people work together in study and research efforts.
We convene at the Azimuth Forum, which is open to all who are interested in mathematical thinking and its applications to problems that matter.
We take an inclusive approach to topics and participants. We seek leadership from professionals and invite amateurs who want to learn. Pretty much the whole range of mathematical sciences - both applied and theoretical - is fair game. Anyone with an idea for a project or study group is welcome to join the forum and circulate their ideas. The following themes have emerged so far.
Mathematical modeling for green applications. Earlier, we worked to understand basic climate models and write programs to simulate them. Presently we are studying reaction network models, or Petri nets, which are foundational to the compartmental models applied in epidemiology and elsewhere. There is also a proposal to explore a biophysical model for leaf growth and animate it through software.
Foundations of network theory. Everything is a network, including leaves, society and the biosphere. The foundations of network theory are being explored at UCR using category theory, an interdisciplinary branch of math with connections to various sciences. We propose a forum study group to follow this work.
Programming with category theory. Category theory has a deep application in the study of functional programming languages. We hosted discussions for an MIT course on this topic, and encourage their continuation in the present.
Azimuth Forum — focal point for discussions.
Petri Net Study Group, Azimuth Forum.
Azimuth Blog — research updates, with a focus on applied category theory.
Leaf Modeling Initiative, Azimuth Forum.
Azimuth Math Book — a place for study groups to put working content. Under construction.
Azimuth Code Project — for collaboration with developers. To be updated with 2020 initiatives.
Azimuth Library — a wiki on the Earth sciences and major aspects of the environmental crisis. Here is information on using the wiki. Needs expert input, to bring it up to date.
There are many ways to contribute. You can write articles or lectures, pose questions, take notes, add information, write software, propose projects, and more. First reflect on which projects you might want to get involved with. Then join the forum. For onboarding, we encourage you to introduce yourself and your interests. Your talents are needed!