Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Nazanin Zaker left Iran in 2016 to settle in Canada to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Ottawa, joining her brother who was already attending the institution. This fan of mathematics is now on the verge of achieving her goal, namely that of earning a PhD in biomathematics.
“Biomathematics allows us to apply mathematical knowledge to model biological systems. We simulate issues in biology to find solutions,” she explained. “My research has modelled the interaction between predators and their prey to see how the populations of such species are affected by the presence of the other. From this we can better understand certain environmental pressures, such as loss of habitat.”
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In a year in which one storyline so thoroughly dominated the headlines, picking 10 different newsmakers might seem ambitious. And yet, the virus wasn’t 2020’s only story. The city mourned the passing of its most famous, and beloved, adopted son. We saw brave women at city hall come forward to tell their stories of sexual misconduct, even as their former boss denied any and all allegations levelled against him. We watched in shock and sadness as a plane was shot out of the sky, carrying dozens of Canadians, eight from Ottawa. We witnessed a reckoning on race and policing, in Ottawa and across North America. But, of course, we will remember 2020 as the year of COVID-19. It took lives, ruined businesses, separated us from our loved ones and exposed vulnerabilities in our health-care system. The virus has been in the news every day for months, a backdrop to nearly every aspect of our lives, big and small. But we approach the new year with hope. This time next year, p