The Interdisciplinary Center for Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Disease Dynamics (IMMIDD) at the University of Münster recently held its first symposium on July 10, 2025, entitled, “From Chaos to Cohesion – The Future of Infectious Disease Modeling.”

Drawing over 100 participants from across the globe, the event brought together leading experts in epidemiology, mathematics, economics, and public health to examine how advanced modeling – enhanced by powerful information systems – can support effective decision-making in the face of global health challenges.

Topics ranged from breakthroughs in data-driven forecasting and novel interdisciplinary collaborations to the integration of economic and technological perspectives in public health strategies. One clear conclusion emerged: the combination of mathematical modeling and information systems is vital for developing robust, actionable tools for epidemic forecasting and preparedness.

IMMIDD brings together expertise from various institutes at the University of Münster: the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, the Institute of Virology, the Institute for Analysis and Numerics, the Institute for Geoinformatics, the Department of Information Systems, and the Institute of Theoretical Physics. The Department of Information Systems, represented by Prof. Bernd Hellingrath and his group, enriched the symposium with their expertise in epidemic modeling and decision-support systems, contributing to shaping the future of pandemic response.

Further information on the IMMIDD can be found here.