Alessandro Vespignani - November 18, 2020

Alessandro Vespignani, PhD, Director of Network Science Institute and Sternberg Family Distinguished Professor, Physics, Computer Science and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, "Computational epidemiology at the time of COVID-19"

The data science revolution is finally enabling the development of large-scale data-driven models that provide real- or near-real-time forecasts and risk analysis for infectious disease threats. These models also provide rationales and quantitative analysis to support policy making decisions and intervention plans. At the same time, the non-incremental advance of the field presents a broad range of challenges: algorithmic (multiscale constitutive equations, scalability, parallelization), real time integration of novel digital data streams (social networks, participatory platform, human mobility etc.). Dr. Vespignani reviews and discusses recent results and challenges in the area, and focuses on ongoing work aimed at responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.