BEGIN seminar – Dr. Paula Moraga
Date: Tuesday 12th November 2024 – 14:00 (UTC+1) –
Time: Online
Geospatial Data Science for Public Health Surveillance
Slides
Abstract:
Geospatial health data are essential to inform public health and policy. These data can be used to understand geographic and temporal patterns, identify risk factors, measure inequalities, and quickly detect outbreaks. In this talk, I will give an overview of statistical methods and computational tools for geospatial data analysis and health surveillance. I will discuss data biases and availability issues, and present modeling advancements to integrate complex data from different sources and resolutions to predict disease risk and detect outbreaks. Finally, I will discuss the importance of effective communication and dissemination to inform policymaking and improve global population health.
Bio:
Paula Moraga is an Assistant Professor of Statistics at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and the Principal Investigator of the GeoHealth research group. She received her Master’s in Biostatistics from Harvard University and her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Valencia. Paula’s research focuses on the development of innovative statistical methods and computational tools for geospatial data analysis and health surveillance, and the impact of her work has directly informed strategic policy in reducing the burden of diseases such as malaria and cancer in several countries. Paula has published extensively in leading journals, and has created educational materials that impact learning on a large scale, including her books Geospatial Health Data (https://www.paulamoraga.com/book-geospatial/) and Spatial Statistics for Data Science (https://www.paulamoraga.com/book-spatial/). Paula received the prestigious Letten Prize by the Letten Foundation and the Young Academy of Norway for her pioneering research in disease surveillance, and her significant contributions to the development of sustainable solutions for health and the environment globally.
