SPARK short-course

Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases

KEY DETAILS

 Course will be conducted at Royal Malioboro Hotel, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

 Expressions of Interest (EOI): by 3rd May 2023

 Applications close: 10th May 2023

 Event to be held 5th- 9th June 2023

SUMMARY

Who is this course for?

This is a hands-on course for participants involved in or interested in conducting modelling.

It is not intended for decision-makers who want to understand modelling but do not intend
to conduct modelling themselves.

What are the pre-requisites?

The course is aimed at participants with a basic understanding of infectious disease

modelling and basic programming skills. We will use the R programming language which is
a freely available language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. To get
the most out of this course, a pre-requisite for attending will be some basic understanding
of R for mathematical modelling. We will provide introductory materials and applicants will
be required work through the R-test provided and follow the recommendation based on the
score obtained.

A good working knowledge of English language is essential.

As this course is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT), we will only be accepting applicants from lower- and middle-income countries in
the Asia-Pacific region.

What can participants expect to be able to do after the course?

On completion of this course, participants will be able to write and analyse the dynamics of
a simple mathematical model and use it to consider cost and intervention scenarios.
Students will become more confident in using R programming for modelling infectious
diseases. The course is not intended to capacitate staff to teach others in these methods.

Scholarships
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We offer a limited number of fee-waiver scholarships to cover the course and materials
and (where necessary) travel and accommodation. These will be based on merit and need
and early to mid-career participants from low-to-middle income countries from the Asia-
Pacific region will be prioritised.
COURSE OVERVIEW

Mathematical modelling was used by policymakers like never before during the early
stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to be used by governments to guide
vaccination strategies, border closures, physical distancing measures and other policies.
The need for people with cross disciplinary skills is growing and this course aims to
provide an introduction to the discipline which is hands-on and practical.

Mathematical modellers arrive at the discipline from STEM (science, technology,

engineering and mathematics), clinical and other backgrounds. Mathematical modelling is
an interdisciplinary activity which benefits from the broad skills and experience base of its
practitioners.

This modelling short-course provides basic practical skills in coding, in addition to

understanding transmission dynamics which establish a foundation for further research or
facilitate critical appraisal of mathematical modelling. A typical student will have studied
the basics of infectious disease modelling and will have some preliminary (online or
otherwise) training or aptitude in the R programming language.

The course will focus on COVID-19 and vector-borne diseases but will help develop
generic skills in infectious diseases modelling, using the R programming language.

TEACHERS
Your teachers come from diverse backgrounds including physicians, infectious disease
modellers and mathematicians. The teachers of the course have developed the material
over the last several years and provided short courses across Australia, in Thailand and
Indonesia. Teachers include:

Dr Iqbal Elyazar: Epidemiology and Geospatial Programme Manager, OUCRU

Prof. Emma McBryde, Infectious Diseases Physician, Infectious diseases modeller JCU
A/Prof. Roslyn Hickson: Applied mathematician, Infectious diseases modeller
Dr Eamon Conway: Computational mathematician, Infectious disease modeller
Dr Lauren Smith: Animal health researcher, Infectious diseases modeller

COURSE ATTENDANCE

The course will include the following.

 Course registration and materials

 Lunch and breaks from Monday to Friday
 Workshop dinner on Thursday night
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Accepted participants are expected to attend all 5 days of the course and make
arrangements with their employer regarding their routine work, so that they can fully
immerse themselves in the course content. Upon successful completion of the course,
students will receive a certificate of completion from SPARK.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING

SPARK is offering scholarships to cover the course and materials and (if applicable) travel
and accommodation expenses in Yogyakarta. These scholarships are particularly aimed at
early- and mid- career researchers from low-to-middle income countries in the Asia-Pacific
Region.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants should contact follow a three-step process for the application:

STEP 1:
Contact the course organisers to express interest in attending. The organisers will
acknowledge receipt of your EOI and send you the pre-requisite R programming exercises
and self-test. Email EOI to: spectrum-spark@unimelb.edu.au

STEP 2:
Complete the R programming exercises and self-test sent by the organisers to assess
your capacity to undertake this course at this time.

STEP 3:
Based on your results from step 2, submit full application to attend the course and
provide additional information for assessment of scholarship.
This offer is part of a competitive scheme run through SPARK and for the full applications,
students must provide a CV and 200-word (max) paragraph outlining their reason for
applying for support and how the successful completion of this course will contribute to
their current studies and future career aspirations. These offers will be contingent on
applicants completing the basic R exercises to demonstrate their familiarity with R
programming, basic knowledge of which is a pre-requisite for attending this course.

EOI deadline: 3rd May 2023 – https://forms.gle/Gn6EH9oSpTSErcNn6

Applications submitted to: (Google Forms link will be sent to eligible applicants)
Submission deadline: 10th May 2023
Queries: spectrum-spark@unimelb.edu.au

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