Dr Ros Porter BSc, PhD, SFHEA, FIMA
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics
- Department of Engineering and Mathematics
- Materials and Engineering Research Institute
- Industry and Innovation Research Institute
Summary
I am an Applied Mathematician with a background in Mathematical Ecology; this means using mathematics to describe ecological processes, for example, modelling how diseases spread or how different animal species interact.
About
Senior Lecturer
Teaching
Department of Engineering and Mathematics
College of Business, Technology and Engineering
Mathematics and Physics
BSc Mathematics
BSc Physics
I teach across a range of modules on the Maths and Physics degree programmes, mainly focussed on the application of mathematics to the real world. I am a passionate believer in active learning and include many student led activities within my teaching.
Research
I work with other scientists to develop models of different ecological processes to help us understand the potential outcomes of possible interventions or future developments.
Areas of interest include:
• Infectious disease spread
• Vector-borne infections
• Species interactions
• Human interventions
I have also been involved in a number of educational research projects looking at students attitudes to taking risks and making errors; the second year slump; course community; teaching methodology.
I also co-ordinate Academic Advising on BSc Mathematics, which is designed to support students to develop their Academic Skills over the course of their studies.
Publications
Journal articles
Worton, A.J., Norman, R.A., Gilbert, L., & Porter, R.B. (2024). GIS-ODE: linking dynamic population models with GIS to predict pathogen vector abundance across a country under climate change scenarios. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 21 (217). http://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2024.0004
Steckles, K., Ketnor, C., Porter, R., Shukie, A., & Corner, A.S. (2024). Lecturers don’t know everything: students listening to the thought processes of lecturers on unfamiliar ground. Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications. http://doi.org/10.1093/teamat/hrae008
Cornock, C., Shukie, A., Porter, R., & O'Sullivan, D. (2021). Students being set up to make mistakes in class through an error-eliciting task. MSOR Connections, 19 (2), 4-9. http://doi.org/10.21100/msor.v19i2.1120
Porter, R., & Bartholomew, H. (2016). When will I ever use that? Giving students opportunity to see the direct application of modelling techniques in the real world. MSOR Connections, 14 (3), 45. http://doi.org/10.21100/msor.v14i3.309
Porter, R., Norman, R.A., & Gilbert, L. (2013). A model to test how ticks and louping ill virus can be controlled by treating red grouse with acaricide. Medical and veterinary entomology, 27 (3), 237-246. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2012.01047.x
Porter, R., Norman, R.A., & Gilbert, L. (2013). An alternative to killing? Treatment of reservoir hosts to control a vector and pathogen in a susceptible species. Parasitology, 140 (2), 247-257. http://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182012001400
Porter, R., Norman, R., & Gilbert, L. (2011). Controlling tick-borne diseases through domestic animal management: a theoretical approach. Theoretical Ecology, 4 (3), 321-339. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12080-010-0080-2
Presentations
Rowlett, P., Cornock, C., & Porter, R. (2018). Student-led employability audit leading to undergraduate curriculum change. Presented at: Faculty of STA Teaching and Learning Conference 2018, Sheffield Hallam University
Other activities
Academic Representative for the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications