PhD Comprehensive Seminar | Athira Satheesh Kumar, Rumor Propagation and Climate Change: A Mathematical Model

Zoom (please email amgrad@uwaterloo.ca or student for the meeting link)

Candidate

Athira Satheesh Kumar | Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo

Title

Rumor Propagation and Climate Change: A Mathematical Model

Abstract

Rumors on social networking sites and apps can significantly influence the decision-making ability of individuals. Incorporating climate dynamics into the rumor propagation model helps us analyze how these rumors about climate change can impact people’s opinions on climate change when only two choices are available, either believe or reject the rumor. Examining the ability to make the right decision (reject the rumor) helps in interpreting the effect of their decision on climate change. In the light of these facts, a new model involving the rumor-climate dynamics is developed. The initial analysis is performed to understand how the greenhouse gas levels respond to the rumor propagation.