Symbolic Computation Group

The Lambert W function arises from many models in the natural sciences, including a surprising number of problems in ecology and evolutionary biology. In many cases, solving these models explicitly with W can provide increased convenience, deeper insight and a new point of view on a biological problem, and makes further mathematical operations, such as differentiation and integration easier.

I will present applications of W in biology, where it expands the range of explicitly solvable models in problems ranging from population growth rates to fertilization kinetics and disease dynamics. I will also discuss some common features of biological processes that seem to make them amenable to solutions with the Lambert W function.