Explainers
JUNIPER is very pleased to collaborate with the fantastic team at Plus Magazine. Articles and podcasts produced by Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger at Plus provide an explainer on the key mathematical modelling work done by JUNIPER members to a general audience. On this page you will find explainers to key epidemic modelling concepts as well as areas of current research. You can also see full details of all content produced with Plus.
Maths in a minute: Branching processes
Worried about your population of bugs? A branching process can help you understand it.
Preparing for Disease X
Experts in public health, industry and disease modelling came together this summer to discuss how maths can prepare for the next pandemic.
On the mathematical frontline: Modelling behaviour
Our behaviour impacts not just our daily lives. But how do you mathematically describe the messiness of human behaviour?
Beating bird flu with maths
With bird flu spreading through cattle herds in the US and infecting humans, the diseases poses a severe threat to wild life, poultry and also people. What can mathematical modelling do to help?
Measles cases on the rise: Why this is worrying and what we can do
We look at the recent rise in measles cases, why it has led to a national health incident being declared, and what can be done to avert the threat.
Celebrating spring with new shoots of mathematics
From tiling bathrooms to fooling cancer cells, and from new insights in topology to bringing research into the classroom — we hope you enjoy our April round-up!
It's all connected – climate change and the spread of diseases
We know climate change can impact our lives through weather events and food security, but it can also impact on the spread of diseases. We talk to Helena Stage from the University of Bristol to find out more.
Maths in a minute: The SIR model
Find out the basics of the SIR model, the basis most disease modellers use to understand the spread of a disease through a population.
Maths in a minute: R – the reproduction ratio
The reproduction ratio, R, is one of the most important numbers in epidemiology. Find out what it means in this very easy introduction.
Maths in half a minute: Exponential growth
What do we mean when we say that something grows exponentially? Find out in this very easy introduction, suitable for anyone curious to know more!