I imagine many of you have learned more about herd immunity in the past 18 months than you ever wanted to: what it is, how many people have to be vaccinated to achieve it, whether we'll ever get there or if that is even the right goal. And yet one aspect I have not seen widely reported on is what happens after we get there. Human behavior remains a significant driver of the pandemic, and our expectations will influence our emotional reactions to future events which will impact our future behavior. So what do you expect … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Shepherding our Immunity
mathematical model
Science Corner: Understanding Superspreading
Mathematical models of the spread of infectious diseases are a big reason I have the job I have now. When I first encountered them in grad school, a whole new world of scientific possibilities opened up. Suddenly there was an overlap between my math & computer skills and the biology which fascinated me. As it became apparent that my laboratory skills were lacking, it was a relief to know I could still contribute to improving public health with the skills I did have. Seeing the various applications and extensions of … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Understanding Superspreading
Science Corner: The Hunger Simulations
Most human societies have some kind of hierarchy, which means some folks have more of something -- power, money, time -- than others. And mutually beneficial cultural artifacts like aqueducts require cooperation and coordination. Yet at least in the short term, there is no advantage to the giver in yielding resources to another. This raises the question -- how did the first hierarchies form? … [Read more...] about Science Corner: The Hunger Simulations