Mathematicians Model a Zombie Outbreak

August 28, 2009

Does the notion of a zombie outbreak sound preposterous? Not to mathematicians Philip Munz, Ioan Hudea, Joe Imad, and Robert J. Smith?* (Carleton University and University of Ottawa), who made it the premise for a research paper on disease modeling.

In their article "When Zombies Attack!: Mathematical Modelling of an Outbreak of Zombie Infection," the researchers introduced a system of equations to model the spread of the undead. Employing zombie-based biological assumptions from well-known movies such as 28 Days Later and Shaun of the Dead, they determined equilibria and stability, and illustrated possible outcomes with numerical solutions. Ultimately, the mathematicians saved humanity by deriving conditions under which zombies can be eliminated via quarantine or even a cure.

The researchers admitted that the premise of the paper "is an unlikely scenario if taken literally." Nonetheless, they hoped readers would see the "real-life applications" of their research, such as "allegiance to political parties, or diseases with a dormant infection." Most importantly, they believed that their work "demonstrates the flexibility of mathematical modelling and shows how modelling can respond to a wide variety of challenges in 'biology.'"

"Normally, the world tends to view mathematicians as a staid, humorless bunch of nerds hiding away in a musty office playing with numbers all day," commented blogger Serge Meunier. The zombie modeling work, which appears in the book Infectious Disease Modelling Research Progress (Nova Science, 2009), may help prove otherwise.

*Yes, that's “Smith?” with a question mark.

Sources:  BBC News, Aug. 18, 2009; Canwest News Service, Aug. 14, 2009; Wired, Aug. 14, 2009.