Visiting lecturer: Carlos Castillo-Chavez

Carlos Castillo-Chavez is a Regents and a Joaquin Bustoz Jr. Professor at Arizona State University. Carlos Castillo-Chavez' research program is carried out at the interface of the mathematical and natural and social sciences and puts emphasis on (i) the role of dynamic social landscapes on disease dispersal; (ii) the role of behavior on disease evolution, (iii) the role of behavior, environmental and social structures on the dynamics of addiction, (iv) the identification of mechanisms that facilitate the spread of diseases across multiple levels of organization. Specifically, in collaboration with various researchers, Castillo-Chavez has been involved in the study of the role of cross-immunity on the evolution and dynamics of influenza; the impact of behavioral changes, epidemiological factors, behavior and social networks on HIV and Tuberculosis dynamics; the role of epidemiological factors, vaccination, public transportation and social structure on the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis dynamics and its control; the impact of life-history vector dynamics on dengue epidemics (Mexico and Peru); the identification of time response scales and their importance in the control of foot and mouth disease outbreaks (Uruguay); the study of role of population structure and control (vaccination, isolation, quarantine and others) on the transmission dynamics of rotavirus, pneumonia and rubella; and the study of the impact of increasing levels of pathogens' resistance to antimicrobials generated by nosocomial infections.

The lecture by Professor Castillo-Chavez will describe how mathematics is used to understand several of the topics outlined above.