Why BioMath? Why Now?

The rationale for and the opportunities to bring the biologymathematics interface into the high schools are explored through examples from the author’s career. Among topics considered are (1) epidemiological modeling, (2) biology as information science, (3) physical mapping of DNA, (4) DNA and RNA chains and the “RNA detective game, ” (5) systems biology, (6) graph-theoretical models of the spread of disease, (7) measurement of cough severity and fatigue, (8) biosurveillance, and (9) location of bioterrorism sensors. With each, activities appropriate for the high school Biology and Mathematics classrooms, and often both in partnership, are described