Math and Science in Epidemic Narratives

Could a fungus really wipe out the majority of humans, as shown in the HBO (Max) series The Last of Us? How realistic is the show’s portrayal of epidemiology? Guest and project scientist at UCLA, Tara Kerin explores these questions and how statistics are a core tool in her field of research.

Find our transcript here: LINK

Curious to learn more? Check out these additional links:

The San Diego Comic Con International masquerade ball: https://www.comic-con.org/cci/newsletter/sunday

How to calculate R0 (R-naught): https://globalhealth.harvard.edu/understanding-predictions-what-is-r-naught/

Tara’s work on HIV: https://cch.ucla.edu/about-atn-cares/

More on R0: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/25/1/17-1901_article

More on the science in The Last of Us: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/17/1157842018/the-science-that-spawned-fungal-fears-in-hbos-the-last-of-us

Entertainment Community Fund: https://entertainmentcommunity.org/

Science and Entertainment Exchange: http://scienceandentertainmentexchange.org/

Follow more of IMSI’s work: www.IMSI.institute, (twitter) @IMSI_institute, (mastodon) https://sciencemastodon.com/@IMSI, (instagram) IMSI.institute

Follow Tara Kerin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarakerin/, @tarakerin

This episode was audio engineered by Tyler Damme. 

Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI) is funded by NSF grant DMS-1929348.