Engagement
The Corona-crisis triggered me to return to my old passion of epidemiology. I wondered about the responses of, science, society, and churches. All these parties seemed to lack the notion that an epidemic is a biomedical problem that turns into a societal problem. I missed, especially, the human view. A view that was added to the biomedical one in my textbook published in 2023.
How to continue after publication of the textbook? I decided to liquidate my company Driehoek Research Support by the end of 2024 and to proceed further as an independent epidemiologist and research manager on a non-commercial basis. I am open to serve society free of charge now, with respect to, coaching, advice, lectures, publications and podcasts.
Epidemiology
Epidemiology may be defined as a trans-disciplinary, scientific, approach to the understanding of diseases at the population level, also taking into account processes at both, the individual and ecosystem level. An approach that provides space for subjectivity, which is inherent to human life, within a framework of, scientific, objectivity. If so, epidemiology may guide us to appropriate, human, management of epidemics.
Epidemiology is based on good science in all of the underlying scientific disciplines. Good science that may be seen operating in a triangle determined by, love of truth, freedom of expression, and orientation in a plethora of information. The output of good research may, subsequently, support public health, if it fits a triangle determined by, basic health, social cohesion, and societal resilience. The borders of the triangle, which should not be passed to avoid impairment of the property indicated, provide a space of safe operating for a researcher.
Books
Jos Frantzen has demonstrated his skills in both, human and botanical epidemiology by, amongst others, publishing two textbooks.
Epidemiology of infectious diseases
Current textbooks provide a strong bio-medical view on epidemics. In this textbook, the bio-medical view is extended to a human view including insights from humanities, social sciences. This extension challenges us all the more to combine the requirement of scientic objectivity with the subjectivity inherent to human life. In addition, the bio-medical view is deepened using knowledge of botanical epidemiology with respect to ‘evolutionary dynamics of pathogens’ and ‘epidemic spread of pathogens’. Bio-medical oriented students and senior scientists are invited to reflect on the multi-dimensional, subjective, character of epidemics. Reflections that may enable appropriate, human, management of epidemics.
The textbook is intended primarily for courses epidemiology at the Masters level, or beyond, and bio-medical scientists at the post-academic level. It may also serve non-biomedical scientists involved in epidemiology.
Read sample of Epidemiology of infectious diseases
Epidemiology and plant ecology
The spatial aspects of epidemics have been a largely ignored feature of plant ecology, yet an understanding of the spatial dynamics of pathogens is essential to quantifying the impact of diseases on wild plants. Moreover, it may provide valuable information for the control of human diseases. This seminal work fulfils such a role by describing the basics of botanical epidemiology within the context of plant ecology.
A variety of models are covered to estimate key parameters at both, the individual and population level of plants, with emphasis on the value of spatial-temporal models in the evolutionary dynamics of pathogens. Practical methods are presented to validate these models, thus making this book accessible to theorists and empiricists alike.
Read sample of Epidemiology and plant ecology
