Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie Apocalypse
Mathematical models of infectious diseases are a valuable tool in understanding the mechanisms and patterns of disease transmission. It is, however, a difficult subject to teach, requiring both mathematical expertise and extensive subject-matter knowledge of a variety of disease systems. In this art...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v17i1.1066 |
| _version_ | 1818986989860421632 |
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| author | Eric T. Lofgren Kristy M. Collins Tara C. Smith Reed A. Cartwright |
| author_facet | Eric T. Lofgren Kristy M. Collins Tara C. Smith Reed A. Cartwright |
| author_sort | Eric T. Lofgren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mathematical models of infectious diseases are a valuable tool in understanding the mechanisms and patterns of disease transmission. It is, however, a difficult subject to teach, requiring both mathematical expertise and extensive subject-matter knowledge of a variety of disease systems. In this article, we explore several uses of zombie epidemics to make mathematical modeling and infectious disease epidemiology more accessible to public health professionals, students, and the general public. We further introduce a web-based simulation, White Zed (http://cartwrig.ht/apps/whitezed/), that can be deployed in classrooms to allow students to explore models before implementing them. In our experience, zombie epidemics are familiar, approachable, flexible, and an ideal way to introduce basic concepts of infectious disease epidemiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:59:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d20706fb8bcc44b29800bc3bc8a67db9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-7877 1935-7885 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:59:34Z |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-d20706fb8bcc44b29800bc3bc8a67db92022-12-21T19:29:26ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852016-03-0117113714210.1128/jmbe.v17i1.1066Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie ApocalypseEric T. Lofgren0Kristy M. Collins1Tara C. Smith2Reed A. Cartwright3Network Dynamics and Simulation Science Laboratory, Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242School of Life Sciences and the Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287Mathematical models of infectious diseases are a valuable tool in understanding the mechanisms and patterns of disease transmission. It is, however, a difficult subject to teach, requiring both mathematical expertise and extensive subject-matter knowledge of a variety of disease systems. In this article, we explore several uses of zombie epidemics to make mathematical modeling and infectious disease epidemiology more accessible to public health professionals, students, and the general public. We further introduce a web-based simulation, White Zed (http://cartwrig.ht/apps/whitezed/), that can be deployed in classrooms to allow students to explore models before implementing them. In our experience, zombie epidemics are familiar, approachable, flexible, and an ideal way to introduce basic concepts of infectious disease epidemiology.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v17i1.1066 |
| spellingShingle | Eric T. Lofgren Kristy M. Collins Tara C. Smith Reed A. Cartwright Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie Apocalypse Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| title | Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie Apocalypse |
| title_full | Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie Apocalypse |
| title_fullStr | Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie Apocalypse |
| title_full_unstemmed | Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie Apocalypse |
| title_short | Equations of the End: Teaching Mathematical Modeling Using the Zombie Apocalypse |
| title_sort | equations of the end teaching mathematical modeling using the zombie apocalypse |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v17i1.1066 |
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