The Centre for Excellence in Mathematical Biology (CEMB) at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) organized a series of online talks titled Popular Science Talk Series 2024 in Mathematical Biology from June 2024 to January 2025. These sessions conducted each month covered, key topics such as Mathematical Ecology, Epidemiology, AI/ML in Healthcare, and Bioinformatics. This initiative aimed to enhance national capacity in Infectious Disease Modeling and Mathematical Biology, fostering mathematical innovation for societal benefits, especially in public health. It provided participants with essential skills and knowledge in emerging domains of Mathematical Biology.
The series attracted a diverse audience, with a total of 174 participants, including faculty members, industry professionals, postdoctoral and doctoral research scholars, as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students from various parts of India. The series featured distinguished speakers who shared their expertise on various topics.
Dr. Mohit Kumar Jolly from IISc Bangalore inaugurated the series on June 7, 2024, with a talk on “What does not kill cancer can make it stronger: Investigating cancer as a complex system.” He discussed metastasis, therapy resistance, and the role of mathematical models in understanding cancer progression, introducing ‘digital twins’ for cancer prediction and treatment strategies.
On July 5, 2024, Dr. Ananth Vedururu Srinivas from LSU Health, New Orleans, USA, delivered a talk on “Bifurcations in the Brain: Exploring Neurons as Dynamical Systems.” He explained how neurons function as dynamical systems, using computational models to study neuronal activity and neurological disorders. On August 2, 2024, Dr. Jai Prakash Tripathi from the Central University of Rajasthan presented a session on “Understanding of Nondimensionalization via a Bacterial Growth Model: Why, How and When.” His talk provided practical insights into simplifying complex biological models through nondimensionalization techniques.
On September 6, 2024, Dr. B.S.R.V. Prasad from Vellore Institute of Technology explored the ecological impacts of food supplementation on prey-predator interactions in his talk, “Food Supplementation for Predators and Parasitoids: A Double-Edged Sword?” He discussed how mathematical ecology contributes to sustainable conservation strategies. Dr. Bapan Ghosh from IIT Indore, on October 4, 2024, introduced “Fractional Order Modeling of Ecological and Epidemiological Systems: Ambiguities and Challenges,” where he explained the advantages and challenges of using fractional-order models in ecological and epidemiological research.
On November 15, 2024, Dr. Bishal Chhetri from IIT Kanpur showcased the integration of mathematical models and AI in studying cancer dynamics in his talk, “Understanding Cancer Disease Using Mathematical and Machine Learning Models.” He emphasized the role of AI and deep learning in improving cancer diagnosis and treatment planning. The final talk in the series was delivered by Prof. Mukesh Doble from Saveetha Dental College, SIMATS, on January 30, 2025. His session, “Silk Fibroin-Based Nano Particle Drug Delivery System Targeting Mycobacterium-Infected Macrophage,” highlighted an innovative approach to tuberculosis treatment using silk fibroin-based nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery.
The Popular Talk Series 2024 in Mathematical Biology successfully engaged participants in advanced topics within Mathematical Biology. The diverse range of expert speakers provided interdisciplinary insights, enriching participants’ understanding of Mathematical Ecology, Epidemiology, AI/ML in Healthcare, and Bioinformatics. The series fostered discussions on innovative applications of mathematical models in real-world biological and healthcare challenges, laying the foundation for future research collaborations in this dynamic field.
CEMB at SSSIHL extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the distinguished speakers for their valuable contributions and to the participants for their enthusiastic engagement. Special thanks to the coordinators, Dr. D. K. K. Vamsi, Dr. Darshan Gera and Dr. K. N. Naresh, for their dedicated efforts in organizing this insightful series.
