Infectious Math

This project is aimed at supporting K-12 teachers in teaching mathematics related to infectious diseases. It involves describing BC’s curriculum related to teaching mathematics and infectious diseases, developing an activity that can be taught and adapted across grade levels to support math education relevant to infectious diseases, delivering this workshop to teachers at Professional Development Days, and disseminating the final activity via GeneSkool’s Teacher’s Resources Portal.

In Summer 2023, PIPPS partnered with GenomeBC to develop workshops for K-12 teachers, sharing classroom activities on infectious disease transmission and evolution for them to use in schools. Additional funding was received from SFU’s Community Engagement Initiative. These workshops help to spread knowledge about infectious disease transmission and evolution to younger audiences and to inspire the next generation of scientists in BC.

Key highlights of the project include two workshops in 2024 engaging 30 teachers in Nanaimo and Prince George, and one school workshop engaging 60 high school students. By empowering teachers with the necessary tools and knowledge, this project aims to enhance the educational experience and foster a deeper understanding of infectious diseases among students in British Columbia.

PIPPS Team: Ben Ashby, Kaylee Byers, Sarah Abdullah

Partners: Genome BC, SFU Community Engagement Initiative, Genome BC's GeneSkool

Output: Vaxcraft Game. Vaxcraft is a free online game about vaccination and virus evolution, developed by Ben Ashby and Then Try This, a non-profit organization.

See VaxCraft's Demo Video below: