R2WinBUGS: A Package for Running WinBUGS from R

The R2WinBUGS package provides convenient functions to call WinBUGS from R. It automatically writes the data and scripts in a format readable by WinBUGS for processing in batch mode, which is possible since version 1.4. After the WinBUGS process has finished, it is possible either to read the resulting data into R by the package itself--which gives a compact graphical summary of inference and convergence diagnostics--or to use the facilities of the coda package for further analyses of the output. Examples are given to demonstrate the usage of this package.

A Battle in Your Body: The Story of Your Immune System

A Battle in Your Body: The Story of Your Immune System is an illustrated children’s book that explores the roles of different immune cells during an infection. The goal was to provide a basic understanding of the synergy required within the immune system and the number of different cells that work together to fight infections. Following printing of the book, I held a reading for a STEM-focused Girl Scout troop. Development of the book was a semester-long process that required gradual expansion of simple drafts and illustrations, as documented by the sequential photos below, and learning how to format and publish using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). I hope to expand the book to discuss other aspects of the immune system and relate the actions of the immune system to a concept of ‘sickness’ that makes more sense to children. I may collaborate with immunologists to explore ways to convey some of this information while remaining factual. Future uses of this book would be in school curriculums, science centers, and even to provide basic information to adults with no immunology background