Associate Professor Roslyn Hickson
CSIRO and James Cook University
We talk to Associate Professor Roslyn Hickson about what superpower she would choose and what she hopes students will get out of her Summer School topic, Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases in January.
1. How do you explain your work and its real-world impact to people outside of the mathematical sciences?
I use mathematics to describe how diseases, such as the flu, are transmitted through populations so we can better control them.
2. What drives your interest in this field?
Complicated dynamics combined with real world applicability.
3. What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
Contributing to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control identifying the need and value of modelling that resulted in them setting up their own in-house modelling team.
4. What are the next interesting “big questions” or challenges you hope to tackle?
How can we improve infectious disease resilience in Australia?
5. If not mathematics research, what would have been?
If it hadn’t been for an injury, I would’ve been an engineering officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
6. Best piece of advice you’ve received?
Get enough sleep!
7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Deep understanding.
8. Rock star scientist, master chef, closet artist, what is something about you that might surprise people?
I hold a course record for the kayaking leg of an adventure race.
9. Deepening field knowledge and providing a networking platform, why are opportunities such as AMSI Summer School so valuable? What do you hope attendees take from your lectures?
An appreciation of the value and complexity of infectious disease modelling, beyond just the mathematical aspects.
10. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
On the water in a kayak!
Associate Professor Roslyn Hickson will be presenting the topic Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the 2021 Summer School at The University of Adelaide in January.
