The Next Pandemic Could Strike at Any Time: Are We Prepared?

Associate Professor of Mathematics Claus Kadelka will discuss how refined infectious disease models can better predict and mitigate future outbreaks, bridging a variety of disciplines from mathematics and statistics to sociology, biology, and public health.

Using compelling examples from his extensive research, Kadelka will demonstrate how multi-disciplinary insights can lead to more accurate, real-world epidemic models and ultimately guide effective public health interventions. He became passionate about this work because it merges his deep interest in mathematical biology with a commitment to safeguarding community health, ensuring that both scientific innovation and public welfare move forward together.

Kadelka received both his master’s and doctorate in mathematics from Virginia Tech, and he has been at Iowa State University since 2018. This is the Spring 2025 LAS Dean’s Distinguished Lecture.