2025 Syllabus

Saturday, May 17: “R Bootcamp”

  • Optional office hours and R Bootcamp at Madagascar Biodiversity Center in Tsimbazaza
  • 8:00am-2:00pm: R Bootcamp (Taratra)
  • Stop by today to download R and the necessary data/programs

Sunday, May 18: “Travel Day”

  • 7:00am: Meet at Madagascar Biodiversity Center in Tsimbazaza
  • 7:30-8:30am: Welcome, Check-In, and Instructor Introductions
  • 9:00-1:00pm: Drive to Cyperus Hotel, Andasibe (Stop for hotely lunch)
  • 2:00-5:30pm: Office Hours & Downloading Packages
  • 5:30-8:00pm: (optional) Night Walk at V.O.I.M.M.A.
  • 8:00-9:00pm: Dinner

Monday, May 19: “Getting Started with the Basics”

Homework: Write your own research question due Tuesday, May 20 at 1:00pm

Tuesday, May 20: “Exploring Types of Models”

  • 6:30-8:00am: Breakfast
  • 8:15-8:30am: Road Map and Daily Agenda
  • 8:30-10:15am: Linear Regression Lecture & Tutorial (Christian)
  • 10:20-10:45am: Coffee Break
  • 10:45-12:15pm: Mechanistic Modeling Lecture & Tutorial (Sophie)
  • 12:15-1:45pm: Lunch
  • 1:45-3:00pm: Formulating Research Questions Pt 2 (Sophie)
  • 3:00-3:30pm: Break
  • 3:30-5:30pm: Epidemic Cards Activity (Charlie, Santino & Angelo)
  • 5:15-6:30pm: One-on-One Instructor Meetings
  • 6:30-7:30pm: Dinner

Homework: Edit your own research questions due Wednesday, May 21 at 8:15am

Homework: Read Chevalier et al. 2011 due Wednesday, May 21 at 10:45am

Wednesday, May 21: “Fitting Models to Data”

  • 6:30-8:00am: Breakfast
  • 8:00-8:15am: Road Map and Daily Agenda
  • 8:15-10:15am: Discussion: Refining Research Questions for Modeling in Groups (All Instructors)
  • 10:15-10:45am: Coffee Break
  • 10:45-12:00pm: Reading a Model-Focused Research Paper (discussion summary here) (Sophie & Abby)
  • 12:00-1:15pm: Lunch
  • 1:15-2:14pm: Model Fitting in Practice Lecture & Tutorial (Cara)
  • 2:15-3:45: Tutorial: Model Fitting with Epidemic Cards (Sophie & Santino)
  • 3:45-4:15pm: Break
  • 4:15-5:15pm: Mid-Session Feedback
  • 5:15-6:30pm: Work Time / Break (Instructors get reviews from mentors)
  • 6:30-7:30pm: Dinner

Homework: Creating a model world + building a statistical framework due Friday, May 23 at 8:15am

Thursday, May 22: “Modeling Different Types of Data”

  • 6:30-7:00am: Breakfast
  • 7:00am-12:00pm: Hike in Andasibe National Park / Mitsinjo - meet out front of Cyperus
  • 12:00-1:00pm: Lunch
  • 1:30-1:45pm: Response to Feedback
  • 1:45-3:15pm: Spatial Analysis and Visualization Lecture & Tutorial (Abby)
  • 3:15-3:45: Coffee Break
  • 3:45-5:00pm: Model Comparison Lecture (Christian)
  • 5:00-6:15pm: Work Time + One-on-One Instructor Meetings
  • 6:30-7:30pm: Dinner

Homework: Creating a model world + building a statistical framework due Friday, May 23 at 8:15am

Friday, May 23: “Using Models in Practice”

  • 6:30-8:00am: Breakfast
  • 8:00-8:15am: Road Map and Daily Agenda
  • 8:15-9:15am: Model Comparison Tutorial (Christian)
  • 9:15-10:15am: Phylogenetic Analysis Lecture (Cara)
  • 10:15-10:45am: Break
  • 10:45-12:00: Phylogenetic Analysis Tutorial (Sophie)
  • 12:00-1:00pm: Lunch
  • 1:15-1:45pm: Assignment: Final Research Plans + Examples
  • 1:45-2:45: Research Seminar (Cara)
  • 2:45-3:45pm: Model Telephone Activity (Santino & Angelo)
  • 3:45-4:15pm: Coffee Break
  • 4:15-4:30pm: Group Photo
  • 4:30-6:30pm: One-on-One Instructor Meetings
  • 6:30: Final Farewell Dinner

Homework: Final Research Plans due by midnight on Sunday, May 25

Saturday, May 24: “Putting it all in Perspective”

  • 7:30-8:45am: Breakfast
  • 8:45-9:00am: Road Map and Daily Agenda
  • 9:00-9:45am: Looking Back: How far we have come? So many models! How to choose? (Sophie)
  • 9:45-10:15am: Coffee Break
  • 10:15-12:00pm: One-on-One Instructor Meetings
  • 12:00pm: Lunch
  • 1:00-6:00pm: Drive to Madagascar Biodiversity Center in Antananarivo
  • Please make any desired edits here to the spelling or order of your name for printing on your completion certificate by 9am tomorrow, Sunday, May 25.

Homework: Final Research Plans due by midnight on Sunday, May 25.

Sunday, May 25: Free Day

  • 9:00-1:00pm: Office hours at MBC in Antananarivo
  • Stop by if you would like help with the course content and/or your final research plan.

Homework: Final Research Plans due by midnight on Sunday, May 25.

Monday, May 26: Final Symposium at Madagascar Biodiversity Center

  • 10:00-12:00pm: Research Talks
  • 12:00-1:00pm: Beverages / Hors d’oeuvres