10–12 September 2025 – University of Dundee
This workshop is supported by the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS).
This KE (knowledge exchange) study group brings together mathematicians, environmental scientists, engineers, and policy stakeholders to address mathematical challenges in peatland system modelling. The focus will be on structured collaborative group work around the partner challenges.
Are peatlands losing their ability to store carbon? Do peatlands tend to increase or decrease their surface area over time, or are they steady-state ecosystems?
Peat presents a unique and testable context for studying soft-growing porous materials due to the largely unexplored coupling between poro-eco-chemo-mechanics, biological growth in the unsaturated layer, and gas-generating decay processes.
This workshop merges disciplines—mathematics, ecology, hydrology, chemistry—to address both academic challenges and real-world problems in carbon sequestration. It offers a platform for experts from diverse backgrounds to develop holistic models for peat bog dynamics and carbon processes. By integrating different perspectives, we aim to stimulate innovative modelling approaches and inform peatland restoration and carbon management.
Peatlands store over 600 gigatonnes of carbon—more than all the world’s forests combined—and sequester ~0.37 Gt of CO₂ annually. When degraded, they become major carbon sources, emitting >2 Gt of CO₂ per year. Restoring peatlands is now a global priority, with major investments (e.g. £1bn in UK government pledges) backing this effort. This event is part of this momentum and is jointly supported by the MATHPEAT Network.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 14:00–14:30 | Introduction and Overview |
| 14:30–15:30 | Challenge Presentations - Session 1 (30 min each) |
| 15:30–16:00 | Coffee Break |
| 16:00–17:00 | Challenge Presentations – Session 2 (30 min each) |
| 17:00–18:00 | Group Formation and Initial Group Work |
| 18:30 | Dinner at Gallery 48 |
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00–10:30 | Group Work on Challenges |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–12:00 | Group Work (continued) |
| 12:00–13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30–14:30 | Short Updates from Each Group + Short Talks |
| 14:30–17:00 | Group Work (continued) |
| 18:30 | Dinner at Gallery 48 |
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00–10:30 | Final Group Work Session |
| 10:30–11:30 | Group Presentations and Feedback |
| 11:30–12:00 | Final Wrap-up and MATHPEAT Future Planning |
| 12:00–13:30 | Lunch and Departures |
| 13:30–14:30 | Optional Review & Progress Discussion |
This KE workshop includes collaboration with several industry and applied research partners. During the first day, real-world challenges will be introduced by contributors from CSX Carbon, Scottish Woodlands, and IMTECO Ltd.
The challenges span a variety of themes, including modelling and reuse of excavated peat, environmental impact of underground infrastructure, coupled monitoring of water table and greenhouse gas fluxes, restoration planning and investment optimisation, decision-support tools for peatland management, and statistical inference and model-data integration.
Please let us know if you have dietary requirements or access needs.
Accommodation and catering are organised centrally.
For travel support or expense queries, contact the organisers directly.