The South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Bioengineering and Biosciences (M3B2) at the University of Pretoria (UP) recently hosted the first ever satellite conference as part of the established multidisciplinary *BIOMATH conferences in Bulgaria.

This BIOMATH 2015-S International conference at UP attracted 40 participants from six countries and nine South African institutions of higher education.

Prof Stephanie Burton, UP Vice-Principal Research and Postgraduate Studies, gave the opening address with Prof Venko Beschkov speaking on behalf of the Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS). The conference included a wide range of invited keynote presentations and contributed papers. The keynote speakers, who are among the best-reputed experts in their fields, were Professors Venco Beschkov (Institute of Chemical Engineering, BAS, Bulgaria), Samuel Bowong (University of Douala, Cameroon), Yves Dumont (CIRAD, France), Hristo Kojouharov (University of Texas at Arlington, USA) and Alun Lloyd (North Carolina State University, USA).

The theme of the conference was to provide access and scientific support to young scientists and researchers who develop and apply mathematical and computational tools to study phenomena in the broad fields of life sciences. The focus being on young scientists, students from the Department of Consumer Science at UP prepared the dinner for the guests. In addition to the Young Scientist Function, the connection with, and emphasis on young scientists was reinforced when Mr Yibeltal Terefe (UP) presented his PhD oral defense at the end of the conference.

Presentations were multidisciplinary in nature and included application of mathematics in areas such as biology, ecology, medicine, bioengineering and environmental sciences. A wide range of research work on vector born disease was presented. Some particular examples included Prof Beschkov (with his background in Chemical Engineering) speaking on Microbial processes in immobilised cell system; Ms Manyuchi (with her Engineering background) presenting her work on Bio-nutrient removal using acti-zymes; Dr Hoareau from the Genetics Department who spoke about Parameter estimation in population genetics and Dr Ngonghala (Havard Medical School) presenting his work Ecological drivers of poverty and economic growth. Of particular note, six of the presented papers were projects initiated during the Second Joint University of South Africa (Unisa)-University of Pretoria (UP) workshop organised by the DST/NRF SARChI Chair M3B2 in March 2015.

All presenters had an opportunity to submit their work to four reputable journals including the ISI listed Mathematics and Computers in Simulation.

The organisers of the BIOMATH2015 Satellite International conference are very grateful to the sponsors: DST/NRF SARChI Chair M3B2 and the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at UP. A word of thanks is also addressed to the International Steering Committee of BIOMATH (Bulgaria) for giving us the opportunity to share the BIOMATH experience.

For further information see: http://www.up.ac.za/biomath2015-s

* The UP BIOMATH Forum is an initiative for interdisciplinary research unifying mathematical modelling, qualitative analysis and experimental investigation in biosciences with the ultimate aim of elucidating the underlying biological processes. In short, the BIOMATH Forum will stimulate research into issues of interest both to mathematicians and biologists.