Zombie apocalypse: Maths and Tasmanian devils predicting how it all ends
A University of Tasmania researcher has used his knowledge of the tumour disease killing Tasmanian devils to help predict what might happen in a real-life zombie apocalypse.
Nick Beeton is one of three Australian contributors to a book for students called Mathematical Modelling of Zombies, published by the University of Ottawa.
In it, academics from across the globe discuss aspects of fighting a hypothetical zombie plague to help educate students about mathematical modelling techniques.
Dr Beeton completed his PhD on the devil tumour disease which has threatened to wipe out the marsupials in the wild.
His chapter explores the plague's transmission and how the greater population could be protected from zombies.
He said there were clear parallels with a fictional zombie plague, including transmission of diseases through biting.
"That's a natural part of devil behaviour, they'll fight over food and sometimes they'll even bite each other while mating," Dr Beeton said.
"Whereas with the zombies it's different again.
"You actually have zombies attacking people, either shambling towards them or sprinting towards them, depending what kind of zombie film you watch."
Dr Beeton said every disease was unique and modelling on transmission was important.
"You kind of look at this and think 'a zombie apocalypse, that's a bit fetched'."
"But when you compare it to, especially wildlife diseases, there are actually some weird and unique things," Dr Beeton said.
"Looking at zombies isn't actually as far-fetched as you might think."
Other chapters in the book look at spatial diffusion of the undead and zombie swarming.
Long nights studying mathematical modelling might leave some students feeling like a zombie.
But the contributors hope the book's imaginative scenario will keep them focused on mathematical modelling techniques for the everyday world.
"Something like zombies excites the imagination, so if you can get that out there to students they go 'well actually, maths is kind of cool we can model zombies', so that's always a nice plus as well," Dr Beeton said.
The book is billed as a way of predicting the unpredictable.
It is promoted as teaching differential equations, statistical estimates, discrete time models and adaptive strategies for zombie attacks.
Students can then apply models to "real-world issues" informing government policy and explaining "how theoretical results can be communicated to a non-mathematical audience".
Dr Beeton is one of 14 contributors to the book by Ottawa University Professor of biomathematics, Robert Smith?, who is also a science fiction fan.
His chapter was written with University of Tasmania graduate Brody Walker and Dr Alex Hoare from the University of New South Wales.
The book includes a foreword by the former script editor of Doctor Who, Andrew Cartmel, a self-confessed zombie fan.
