Clinic on Dynamical Approaches to Infectious Disease Data

The seventh annual DAIDD clinic ~ December 16 - 22, 2018 ~ Stellenbosch, South Africa

  1. Schedule

Clinic Schedule

Note that the schedule below is preliminary and subject to change. Materials linked from this page are also subject to change and should not be considered final until the conclusion of the relevant session.

Sunday, 16 Dec

  • 14:00 Check-in available for all participants
  • 16:00-16:30 Welcome and introductions
  • 16:30-16:45 What are we doing here? (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 16:45-17:30 What is Science: models and data (Carl Pearson)
  • 17:30-17:45 Working with the DAIDD Dropbox Folders (Carl Pearson)
    • Make sure your slides are uploaded for tomorrow’s morning session!
  • 17:45-18:30 Ice breakers (Masimba Paradza and Gavin Hitchcock)

Monday, 17 Dec

  • 8:40-10:30 Research pitches (Moderator: Cari van Schalkwyk)
  • 10:30-11:00 Morning break
  • 11:00 - 12:30 Intuitive aspects of dynamics and introduction to model worlds (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 12:30-2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00-2:15 Intuitive aspects of dynamics and introduction to model worlds (Juliet Pulliam) - continued
  • 2:15-2:45 Overview of research plan development and structure (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 2:45-3:40 Writing exercise: formulating research questions for modeling projects (Cari van Schalkwyk)
  • 3:40-4:00 Afternoon break
  • 4:00-5:45 Dynamical Fever - computer exercise and discussion (John Hargrove)
  • 5:45-6:00 Dynamical Fever - model description, modeling terminology and taxonomy (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 6:00 Welcome reception

Tuesday, 18 Dec

  • 8:40-9:00 Faculty research presentations - (Carl Pearson)
  • 9:00-10:30 The SIR model family - conceptual framework and introduction to difference and differential equations (Cari van Schalkwyk and John Hargrove)
  • 10:30-11:00 Morning break
  • 11:00-11:45 Small group session: research questions for modeling projects (All faculty)
  • 11:45-12:30 Simple individual-based models (Carl Pearson)
  • 12:30-2:00 Lunch break
  • 2:00-3:00 Simple individual-based models (continued) (Carl Pearson)
  • 3:00-4:00 Modeling in practice: The life cycle of a modeling project, from conception to publication (John Hargrove)
  • 4:00-4:30 Afternoon break
    • Make sure your research question is in the researchQuestions folder on Dropbox before the next session!
  • 4:30-6:00 Exercise: Creating a model world to address a research question (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 8:00-9:00 Working session

Wednesday, 19 Dec

  • 8:40-9:00 Faculty research presentations - (John Hargrove)
  • 9:00-10:30 Stochastic simulation models (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 10:30-11:00 Morning break
  • 11:00-12:30 Small-group session: matching models to questions (All faculty)
  • 12:30-2:00 Lunch break
  • 2:00-3:30 Impact of contact patterns, consequences of heterogeneity, and modeling options (Jonathan Dushoff)
  • 3:30-4:00 Afternoon break
  • 4:00-4:30 Work session
  • 4:30-6:00 Writing exercise - description of proposed model and assumptions (Alex Welte)
  • 8:00-9:00 Mid-session feedback (Masimba Paradza and Gavin Hitchcock)

Thursday, 20 Dec

  • 8:00-9:30 Group hike
  • 9:30-10:00 Shower / swim
  • 10:10-10:30 Regroup after feedback (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 10:30-11:00 Morning break
  • 11:00-12:30 Models and data: introduction to model fitting (Cari van Schalkwyk)
  • 12:30-2:00 Lunch break
  • 2:00-3:30 Model fitting tutorial (John Hargrove)
  • 3:30-4:00 Afternoon break
  • 4:00-5:30 Exercise: Planning your approach
    • 30 minutes working individually; 30 minutes in your usual groups
  • 5:30-6:00 Small-group mentored working session (All faculty)
  • 6:00-7:00 Exercise: Simulation for validation (Cari van Schalkwyk) - optional
  • 8:00-9:00 Social activity (Game night)

Friday, 21 Dec

  • 8:40-10:10 Use of models in public health decision-making: Dengue vaccination roll-out (Carl Pearson)
    • 10:10 Group Photo
  • 10:20-10:40 Faculty research presentations (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 10:40-11:00 Morning break
  • 11:00-12:30 Mentored working session (All faculty)
  • 12:30-2:00 Lunch break
    • 13:00 Mentored working session (continued)
  • 2:00-3:00 Model evaluation and comparison (Jonathan Dushoff - remote)
  • 3:00-3:30 Model-based inference and the bigger picture - (Carl Pearson)
  • 3:30-4:00 Afternoon break
  • 4:00-6:00 Writing exercise - complete your Research Plan and your presentation slide (final research question and diagram)
    • Full research plans are due by 9:00 on Saturday (see instructions).

Saturday, 22 Dec

  • 8:00-8:50 Breakfast
  • 9:00-10:00 Use of models in study design for dynamic systems: Ebola vaccine trial design (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 10:00-10:15 Short break
  • 10:15-11:30 Discussion of research plans/proposals (Moderator: Cari van Schalkwyk)
  • 11:30-11:45 Short break
  • 11:45-13:00 Final feedback session (Masimba Paradza and Gavin Hitchcock)
  • 13:00-13:15 Closing session (Juliet Pulliam)
  • 13:15-14:00 Lunch
  • 14:00 Departure from Mont Fleur