Data science played a central role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling breakthroughs in everything from outbreak forecasting to vaccine development. This course explores the analytical tools, interdisciplinary collaborations, and real-world applications that allowed data scientists, epidemiologists, virologists, and policymakers to confront an unprecedented global crisis.
During Covid, mathematical modellers and data scientists joined virologists, public health professionals and policy makers to confront the pandemic using methods that did not exist for previous generations. And in recent years, the value of big-data has become increasingly appreciated across all sectors of industry, academia and society. It is clear that in the modern era data is an exceedingly valuable commodity and will be important in our preparedness for any future disease outbreaks.
Through a series of expert-led sessions, students will examine how data-driven approaches shaped key decisions during the pandemic—from modelling transmission dynamics to evaluating vaccine efficacy and identifying biomarkers of infection. The course also explores the broader systems that underpin pandemic preparedness, including One Health surveillance, genomic epidemiology, and public communication strategies.
Students will gain an appreciation for the power and limitations of data science in high-stakes environments, and develop insight into how these tools can—and must—be adapted for future infectious disease threats, including the elusive 'Disease X'. Real-world case studies, computational approaches, and cross-disciplinary perspectives will provide a comprehensive understanding of how data science continues to transform global health.
This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.