Public Lecture in Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics of Epidemics: Lessons from COVID-19 in Ohio
Speaker:
Dr. Grzegorz (“Greg”) Rempala
The Ohio State University
https://cph.osu.edu/people/grempala
Date & Time:
Friday, September 26, 2025
12:45 to 1:45 p.m.
DeGrace 312
Reception to follow in Hovorka Atrium
About the Lecture
How do scientists make sense of the spread of a disease like COVID-19?
In this lecture, we explore the mathematical tools that epidemiologists use to understand and predict outbreaks. We’ll look at survival models, which help estimate how long people remain infectious; differential equations, which track population-level dynamics such as infection waves; and network models, which capture the impact of social connections and gatherings on disease spread. Using data from Ohio’s experience with COVID-19, we will see how mathematics guided public health decisions and what lessons we can carry forward to future epidemics.
About the Speaker
Dr. Grzegorz (“Greg”) Rempala is a Professor of Biostatistics and Mathematics at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on stochastic processes, mathematical biology, and the application of mathematics to problems in epidemiology and public health. Dr. Rempala has published extensively on mathematical models of infectious diseases and has contributed to understanding the spread and control of epidemics, including COVID-19.
Learn more about Dr. Rempala on Wikipedia
Hosted by
Case Western Reserve University
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics
All are welcome! Please RSVP to attend.