September 19, 2011

SEP. 29 SPECIAL GROUP ASSIGNMENT

This assignment looks into the dynamics of the occurrence of an epidemic. In line with this, research on the following:

1. What is an epidemic? What are the manifestations of an epidemic? What are the primary considerations when there is an epidemic?

2. As a group, watch the movie "Contagion". Based on your research (and answers in number 1), do you agree on how the Contagion movie exhibited the propagation of the epidemic ? Why or why not?

3. What were the conflicts exhibited by the Contagion movie in terms of uncovering the cause of the epidemic and the creation of the vaccine for the disease? Do you think this conflicts may really happen? Why or why not?

4. Read the 8th chapter in the book Widsom of the Crowds by James Surowiecki. The chapter is on Science: Collaboration, Competition and Reputation. The chapter actually dealt on the SARS case.

Compare and contrast the method of (a) reporting the epidemic, (b) finding the cause of disease-- as presented in the chapter in the book and the Contagion movie.

5. How do you think information technology has made an impact to the discovery of the cause of SARS? How about in the Contagion movie, how does information technology helped?

Please submit a printed assignment with a cover page indicating the names of the members and the section. Thank you.

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