Semi-final Schedule

About the conference

There is growing recognition that despite the overwhelming success of childhood vaccination programs deployed since the mid-20th century, infectious diseases continue to pose a threat to national and global health. Increased encroachment of humans on natural habitats has led to an increased incidence of novel zoonotic infections (animal cross over). Drug-resistance is an emerging threat, particularly for malaria, TB, influenza and numerous bacterial pathogens. Modern travel facilitates faster outbreaks of diseases such as influenza and SARS. 2013 is also the year of the Mathematics of Planet Earth, and this workshop will focus on mathematical methodologies relating to epidemics, under the theme "A planet at risk".

The main thrust of this workshop will be exploring the interface between important methodological areas of infectious disease modelling. In particular, two main themes will be explored:

1. The interface between model-based data analysis ("looking backwards") and model-based scenario analysis ("looking forwards"), and the ways in which we can better integrate those two endeavours to yield more informed policy recommendations.
2. The relationship between agent-based/micro-simulation and modelling, and how we can leverage results from both forms of investigation to draw stronger inferences on the systems of interest, and be more confident in the results that we derive from models.

An integral part of this workshop is a student and ECR poster competition, with allotted time for poster viewing.

Confirmed keynote speakers include

1. Matt Keeling is a Professor in both the Mathematics Institute and Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick. Keeling is an internationally-renowned researcher in the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases and co-authored the prominent book Modeling Infectious Diseases: in humans and animals.
2. Jane Heffernan is an Associate Professor at York University and leads the Modelling Infection and Immunity Lab, which is affiliated with the Centre for Disease Modelling. Heffernan's research projects focus on the development of new biologically-motivated models of infectious diseases, both deterministic and stochastic.
3. Steven Riley is a Reader in Infectious Disease Ecology and Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London. Riley studies the transmission of human pathogens by both collecting data and using mathematical models to look at interesting scientific questions that are relevant to public health.
4. Alex Cook is an Assistant Professor in the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, and the Department of Statistics and Applied Probability of the National University of Singapore, as well as in the Program in Health Services and Systems Research at the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore. Cook models infectious disease phenomena as stochastic processes and uses inference.

Organisers:

• Roslyn Hickson, The University of Newcastle (UoN)
• Joshua Ross, University of Adelaide
• Geoff Mercer, Australian National University (ANU)
• Emma McBryde, University of Melbourne
• James McCaw, University of Melbourne
• Mick Roberts, Massey University
• David Wilson, University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Contributed Talks (and Posters)

Contributed talk (and poster) abstracts can now be submitted online.

• contributed talks will be allotted 20 minutes, including questions.
• abstract submission for talks will close on 31st August, or when all spots have been filled, which-ever comes first. Abstract acceptance notifications will be given ASAP, and certainly by 7th September
• Abstract submission for posters will close 7th September (same day as registration), with acceptance notified ASAP, and usually within 2 weeks of submission

Venue

The conference will be held at the Newcastle City Hall. Details to follow.

Travel

This event is sponsored by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI). AMSI allocates a travel allowance annually to each of its member universities. Students or early career researchers from AMSI member universities without access to a suitable research grant or other source of funding may apply to their Head of Mathematical Sciences for subsidy of travel, accommodation and registration fee for out of the departmental travel allowance.

Registration

Registration costs are as follows:

Abstract submission will open in June and close on 7th September.

Contributed session slots will be available, as well as poster boards with a dedicated time in the programme for poster viewing. A prize will be awarded to the best poster by a student or early career researcher.

Other Conferences

Australian Mathematical Society conference

The 57th Annual Meeting of the Australian Mathematical Society will be held during the week following this workshop, from 30th September to 3rd October at the University of Sydney.

Accommodation Suggestions

• The Clarendon Hotel (02) 4907 6700, 0.3 km
• Crowne Plaza Newcastle (02) 4907 5000, 0.5 km
• Chifley Hotel Apartments (02) 4910 4910, 0.7 km
• Quest Newcastle Serviced Apartments (02) 4928 8000, 0.7 km
• Travelodge Newcastle (02) 4926 3777, 0.9 km
• Hotel Ibis Newcastle (02) 4925 2266, 1.0 km
• Backpackers by the Beach (02) 4926 3472, 1.3 km
• Novotel Newcastle Beach (02) 4032 3700, 1.4 km
• Newcastle Beach YHA (02) 4925 3544, 1.4 km
• Noah's on the Beach (02) 4929 5181, 1.8 km

Transportation

Sydney Airport to Newcastle

For those arriving at Sydney Airport we recommend taking the train to Newcastle. Take the Airport & East Hills train from Domestic/International Airport Station to Central Station and then the Newcastle and Central Coast train from Central Station to Newcastle Station. From Newcastle Station it is an easy walk to the recommended hotels. For more information and/or to plan your exact trip times see the CityRail website at www.cityrail.info.

Alternatively, there is the Happy Cabby Airport Shuttle Service which you will need to book in advance.

Newcastle Airport to Newcastle

For those arriving at the Newcastle Airport we recommend taking a taxi to Newcastle. The taxi rank is adjacent to the arrivals area of the terminal. Newcastle Taxis can be contacted directly, free-of-charge, on the dedicated taxi phone located in the arrivals end of the terminal.

Alternatively, you can catch the 130 or 131 bus from the Newcastle Airport to the Newcastle Station. From Newcastle Station it is an easy walk to the recommended hotels. For more information and/or to plan your exact trip times see the CityRail website or the Port Stephens Coaches timetables.

Local Transportation in Newcastle

Newcastle Taxis: bookings can be made online or by calling 133 300 within Australia.

Newcastle Buses: the free green 555 Newcastle Shuttle Bus runs every 20 minutes, seven days a week, on a continuous loop around the city centre.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact