Deadinburgh biomaths

15 Dec
2015

Background

Mathematical skills are essential to solving problems scientifically. Maths is used in every area of science from epidemiological modelling to disease diagnosis and chemical calculations. To deal with disease outbreaks, scientists need to draw on the tools provided by mathematics and statistics to analyse data and decide on appropriate responses.

We have a strategic commitment to raise the mathematical and computational skills of biologists at all levels and these resources aim to foster an interest in the use of maths in the biosciences.

About the resource

These resources include lessons to support the award winning Deadinburgh immersive experiential theatre show and future spin-off shows. The lessons build on the show content and are suitable for those who have not attended the show as well as those who have.

The lessons aim to enrich and support the teaching of mathematics in science and provide both a fictional and scientific context for mathematics lessons.

Each lesson features:

• a background story that builds on the Deadinburgh show
• a description of recent bioscience research that could be used to tackle a zombie outbreak
• a PowerPoint presentation
• Links to the secondary curriculum in England and Scotland

Topics

• Disease issues
  Route of transmission, infectious organisms, survival assay, calculating speed, disease symptoms, ethics, virology, measuring infectivity, serial dilutions, drug testing
• Mathematical methods
  Presenting data, calculating the mode, percentages, calculating fractions, multiplication, converting percentages to decimals, multiplying probabilities, standard form, rearranging equations, simultaneous equations, handling data