Seasonal School Workshop II

As a continuation of the seasonal school we organised in October last year, we are delighted to host a second follow-up workshop. Confirmed speakers are

  • James Vickers (University of Southampton)
Stefanie Sonner (Radboud University Nijmegen)

Degenerate Diffusion Equations and Applications in the Modelling of Biofilms

In this course I will give an introduction to degenerate diffusion equations motivated by models for biofilm growth. Biofilms are dense aggregations of bacterial cells attached to a surface and held together by a self-produced slimy matrix. They affect many aspects of human life and play a crucial role in natural, medical and industrial settings. 

We will discuss important properties and mathematical difficulties of degenerate diffusion equations. To this end we will look at the porous medium equation as a prototype example and compare the qualitative behavior of solutions with the qualitative behavior of solutions of the classical heat equation. In particular, we will discuss self-similarity, finite speed of propagation, regularity and travelling wave solutions. Furthermore, we will connect the theory with applications looking at models for bacterial biofilms where degenerate diffusion effects play an important role.

📅 Date & Time: March 26–27, 2026  

🏛️ Location: Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 297, 9000 Ghent (building S8)

Please note that this talk will be held in hybrid mode, both in person and via Zoom.

Zoom link to join:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83095584409?pwd=c3huaUhZcWFrZ2NNMU05Ujg4aUlWQT09

Meeting ID: 830 9558 4409

Passcode: 135803

📝 Registration: 

We ask participants to register via the following registration form:

register now!

The Doctoral School Office of Ghent University has recognised the school as a specialist course/seasonal school as part of Ghent University’s doctoral training programme. A maximum of 18,000€ is awarded for the organisation of this event. It is the fourth event in a series of schools supported by the UGent Doctoral Schools: