Northwestern University scientists created a model to explore food web dynamics towards species conservation. "The goal of this project, funded by the National Science Foundation's Division of Mathematical Sciences, is to develop mathematical methods to study dynamical processes in complex networks. Although the specific application mentioned here may be useful in management of ecosystems, the mathematical foundation underlying the analysis is much more universal. The broad concept is innovative in the area of complex networks because it concludes that large-scale failures can be avoided by focusing on preventing the waves of failure that follow the initial event."
An explanation of mathematical exmples in everyday life and a review of the author's mathematical journey from primary school throughout his career. (Published in the US as Here's Looking at Euclid)
"Street-Fighting Mathematics:
The Art of Educated Guessing and Opportunistic Problem Solving" by
Sanjoy Mahajan, published in 2010. "Mahajan describes six tools: dimensional analysis, easy cases, lumping, picture proofs, successive approximation, and reasoning by analogy. Illustrating each tool with numerous examples, he carefully separates the tool-the general principle-from the particular application so that the reader can most easily grasp the tool itself to use on problems of particular interest." Available as a free download (Creative Commons License), .pdf): http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/full_pdfs/Street-Fighting_Mathematics.pdf
A 10 part series by Professor Marcus du Satuoy, University of Oxford, "argues that mathematics is the driving force behind modern science. Ten fifteen minute podcasts that reveal the personalities behind the calculations from Newton to the present day. How do these masters of abstraction find a role in the real world?"
An oped by the executive director of the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications and a Brown University professor argue that different math skills are needed for different life applications and high school math curriculum should be adjusted accordingly.