Explore the challenges and strategies for tracking and controlling future pandemics in this 57-minute lecture by Lauren Ancel Meyers, External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into the complexities of infectious diseases, modern plagues, and interdisciplinary efforts to combat them. Learn about influenza basics, network analysis, animal-to-human transmission, and methodological developments in disease prediction. Discover how supercomputing, optimization, and data analysis contribute to forecasting and simulation models. Examine the importance of stockpiling resources, developing user interfaces, and fostering successful collaborations in pandemic preparedness. Gain insights into seasonal flu patterns, transmission networks, and model selection techniques used to anticipate and mitigate the impact of emerging infectious diseases.