Fred Brauer – författare

This textbook provides an introduction to the field of mathematical biology through the integration of classical applications in ecology with more recent applications to epidemiology, particularly in the context of spread of infectious diseases. It integrates modeling, mathematics, and applications in a semi-rigorous way, stating theoretical results and giving references but not necessarily giving detailed proofs, providing a solid introduction to the field to undergraduates (junior and senior level), graduate students in applied mathematics, ecology, epidemiology or evolutionary biology, sustainability scientists, and to researchers who must routinely read the practical and theoretical results that come from modeling in ecology and epidemiology.

This new edition has been updated throughout. In particular the chapters on epidemiology have been updated and extended considerably, and there is a new chapter on spatially structured populations that incorporates dispersal.The number of problems has been increased and the number of projects has more than doubled, in particular those stressing connections to data.  In addition some examples, exercises, and projects include use of Maple and Matlab.

 Review of first edition:

  "A strength of the book is the large  number of biologically-motivated problem sets. These and the references to the original biological papers would be valuable resources for an instructor." (UK Nonlinear News, 2001)

The book is a comprehensive, self-contained introduction to the mathematical modeling and analysis of disease transmission models. It includes (i) an introduction to the main concepts of compartmental models including models with heterogeneous mixing of individuals and models for vector-transmitted diseases, (ii) a detailed analysis of models for important specific diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, influenza, Ebola virus disease, malaria, dengue fever and the Zika virus, (iii) an introduction to more advanced mathematical topics, including age structure, spatial structure, and mobility, and (iv) some challenges and opportunities for the future.

There are exercises of varying degrees of difficulty, and projects leading to new research directions. For the benefit of public health professionals whose contact with mathematics may not be recent, there is an appendix covering the necessary mathematical background. There are indications which sections require a strong mathematical background so that the book can be useful for both mathematical modelers and public health professionals.