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Adapting the “Networking During Infectious Diseases Model” (NIDM) for Science Communication Using Julia and Genie

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Social Computing and Social Media (HCII 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14026))

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Abstract

Scientific publications can be challenging for non-experts due to their complex concepts, technical terminology, and detailed descriptions of results. Interactive simulations can be used as a powerful way to communicate scientific progress to non-experts, providing a more engaging and hands-on experience that can help users understand complex processes. In this paper, we present a prototype of an interactive simulation for the “Networking during Infectious Diseases Model” (NIDM), which integrates theory from sociology, health psychology, and epidemiology to explore the interplay between social networks and the spread of infectious diseases. The prototype was developed using user-centered design and formatively evaluated. The goal of the contribution is to open the discussion on the evaluation of the prototype and to enhance the intuitive understanding of self-protective behavior and distancing measures following the outbreak of COVID-19. The results highlight the potential of interactive simulations as a tool for science communication and public engagement.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See Table 1 for an overview of all model parameters and state variables.

  2. 2.

    A closed triad is a group of three nodes in a network where each pair of nodes (here: agents) is directly connected by an edge (here: social relation), forming a triangle shape.

  3. 3.

    Offers can be considered the number of contacts an agent has on a given time step. This can be, for example, an individual meeting 12 other individuals throughout a single day.

  4. 4.

    J allows prioritization of neighbors for selection.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants in our research for their valuable input. This work has partly been funded by the federal ministry of research and education in Germany in the infoXpand project. https://www.overleaf.com/project/63a58ccd6d9b3e7c9e1e3e91.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Lübeck, Institute for Multimedia and Interactive Systems, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Lübeck, Germany

    Hendrik Nunner, Katinka Feltes, Pius Gutsche, Helen Kuswik, Erik Luda, Leonard Stellbrink & André Calero Valdez

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  1. Hendrik Nunner
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  2. Katinka Feltes
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  3. Pius Gutsche
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  4. Helen Kuswik
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  6. Leonard Stellbrink
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  7. André Calero Valdez
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Correspondence to Hendrik Nunner .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Adela Coman

  2. University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Simona Vasilache

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Nunner, H. et al. (2023). Adapting the “Networking During Infectious Diseases Model” (NIDM) for Science Communication Using Julia and Genie. In: Coman, A., Vasilache, S. (eds) Social Computing and Social Media. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14026. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35927-9_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35927-9_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-35927-9

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