The ear is a remarkable detector, encoding sound pressure into neural signals that carry myriad pieces of information about the world around us to the brain. It is highly sensitive, operating over a large dynamic range spanning more than 12 orders of magnitude, with sounds down near threshold only moving the eardrum a small fraction of the diameter of a hydrogen atom. It is also highly selective, decomposing sound into constituent frequency components by virtue of acting as a hydrodynamic Fourier analyzer. Even more curious is that, not only does the ear respond to sound, but emits it as well, a facet that has revolutionized pediatric audiology. Yet much still remains unknown about this system we all have a pair of built in to our heads.

This one-day workshop aims to bring together a variety of researchers from different backgrounds to explore, from both mathematical and biological viewpoints, a wide range of topics related to the ear.

Designed to be somewhat pedagogical in nature, the workshop will speak to both those seeking to advance their knowledge/attitude of mathematics, as well as those curious to learn more about the wealth of mathematical opportunity the ear motivates for study. As such, the workshop will be particularly geared towards students and postdocs, but open to all. General mathematical themes are: fluid dynamics, spectral analysis, biomechanics, neural computation, nonlinear dynamics, inverse problems, and stochastics.

While a stand-alone event in of itself, the workshop also serves as a precursor to the subsequent Mechanics of Hearing meeting (http://www.mechanicsofhearing.org/moh2017/) to take place at Brock University on June 19-24, 2017.

High Resolution Photo