“MARS: Mathematics for AI in Real-world Systems” is an exciting new £15M investment at Lancaster University, expanding on our excellence in spatial epidemiological and environmental modelling. Bringing in 10 new academic posts, with associated research staff and students, MARS will revolutionise Lancaster’s research capacity in mathematics
connecting systems modeling and AI methods, to support its flagship strategies in the applied sciences of Manufacturing, Environmental Science, Health, and Cybersecurity. This will be alongside new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, providing student opportunities to address a major skills-gap in the principles underlying AI and their application to real-world systems. These activities will allow us to reach out to industry and government partners as a regional, national, and global leader in next-generation mathematics. With E3 funding, MARS will become a unique national capability in the North West, pushing the boundaries of AI-driven modelling to tackle key challenges in the modern world.