Date/Time
Date(s) - 26/09/2024
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Thursday September 26th at 2:30pm in HH 410

Title: Discussion of Heavy use of equations impedes communication among biologists

Facilitators: Chris Greyson-Gaito & Richard Zhao

Summary: The paper Heavy use of equations impedes communication among biologists makes the claim that extensive inclusion of equations in math biology articles reduces the effectiveness of communication of that mathematics. We will discuss the veracity of that claim and when papers should be focused on other biomathematicians and when they should be focused on empirical biologists. Other questions will include what is the best way to present equations? What is the role of equations in the main text versus an appendix?

We recommend that attendees read Fawcett TW, Higginson AD. 2012 Heavy use of equations impedes communication among biologists. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109(29):11735-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205259109.

Interested readers can also read Fernandes AD. No evidence that equations cause impeded communication among biologists. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Nov 6;109(45):E3057; author reply E3058-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1211892109.

and https://theoreticalecology.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/more-equations-less-citations/