In an intense but informative session, the first school of the annual series of International School on Mathematical Epidemiology (ISME) took place from 1^st to 5^th September, at the Strathmore University Madaraka Campus.  The ISME school of Mathematical Modelling in Biology and Medicine organized by Center for Applied Research in Mathematical Sciences (CARMS) is the application of mathematical techniques to solve problems in biology and medicine. This year’s theme was Mathematical Epidemiology.

 

Mathematical Biology is one of the fastest growing research areas in Applied Mathematics and is contributing significantly to the understanding of the biological processes. It also introduces new mathematical questions which by using new theories and analytical methods attempts to answer them. Modeling methodologies include ordinary and partial differential equations, as well as cellular automata and agent-based models.

 

The course was intended to equip participants with knowledge on factors such as: Introducing biological ideas whose description or understanding benefits by using mathematics, Providing an overview of the mathematics required to describe and analyze biological processes, Encourage more developing scientists to become interested in mathematical modeling in biology and Encourage communication between mathematical modelers and public health scientists and epidemiologists, who have been historically unaware of the uses of mathematical modeling.

 

The facilitators for this year’s school were Prof. Livingstone S. Luboobi who was the lead facilitator, Dr. Faraimunashe Chirove and Dr. Bernhards Ogutu.

The ISME School included lectures on mathematical epidemiology with one of the most important aspects being, projects for groups of 4–6 participants mixing scientific backgrounds and levels of experience, focusing on real-world problems around which participants develop and analyze models. It also incorporated several lectures on public-health topics with focus on those relevant to other events such as global spread, Indigenous population’s health, vector-borne diseases and integration of surveillance, statistical data analysis and dynamical modelling and simulations.

This year’s programs comprised of; coordinating sequences of lectures to cover the basic concepts and techniques in disease modelling, public lectures for detailed case studies of specific diseases and public health issues, pre-assigned participant group projects and Student presentations.

 

The outcome of the school saw the participants get knowledge on network for Bio-modeling, an interface between mathematicians and biomedical professionals enhanced, open new areas of research in Bio-modeling and improving mathematical modeling skills for participants.