Consider This! Simplifying the COVID-19 conversation – In a Pandemic, Science Matters

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Featured Speakers: 

  • Heidi Beidinger-Burnett, Director, Eck Institute for Global Health Masters Program; Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame; President of the St. Joseph County Board of Health
  • Mary Ann McDowell, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Member of the Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame
  • Marie Lynn Miranda, Charles and Jill Fischer Provost and Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame.

On October 7th, 2020, Heidi Beidinger-Burnett, Director, Eck Institute for Global Health Masters Program, Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Biological Sciences, and President of the St. Joseph County Board of Health and Mary Ann McDowell, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, member of the Eck Institute for Global Health, and infectious disease and immunology expert introduced the Consider This! speaker series. They started the series in order to educate the many people in the Notre Dame community and beyond who are misinformed or struggle to understand the plethora of information going around about Covid-19. They were joined by Mary Lynn Miranda, Charles and Jill Fischer Provost and Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Notre Dame. Miranda was brought in to discuss her work in Covid-19 research and the links between the pandemic and decreasing mental health in America. She also brought to light the “trisis” (a crisis with three, specific aspects) in America, which includes the pandemic, the economic downfall that followed its arrival, and the racial issues that continue to plague the country.

Before Miranda was introduced, Beidinger-Burnett and McDowell discussed some of their current work, as well as the issues regarding Covid-19 that were in the news on that particular day. They shared that on October 7th, 2020, cases of Covid-19 were rising in South Bend, and this was troublesome; hospital beds were continually being taken up, and there were worries of overflow.  Beidinger stated: “We are not trending well at all, and we are not going in the right direction.” Next, they mentioned that President Trump was in the hospital with COVID, and was being treated by a Notre Dame alum. This was followed by a discussion of herd immunity parties. Herd immunity parties are parties whose aim is to invite people who are currently contagious with the virus as well as people who are not, in order to infect those who are negative. The idea is that if enough people who live on the same campus become infected, then eventually will reach herd immunity. Experts warn against such a thing, as this virus is very dangerous and it is never a guarantee that one will not have adverse effects, regardless of age or lack of underlying conditions. 

Immediately after Miranda was introduced, Beidinger asked her the following question: “What can we do to encourage more women to get involved in the sciences?”.  Miranda responded first with the benefits that female involvement in science presents to the world. She stated that when diversity increases, productivity does the same. She also explained that without women, science would be deprived of the perspective of 50% of the population, and everyone suffers as a result. She believes that in order for women to be encouraged to enter the sciences, it is important for accomplished women like them to model the way. The three scientists also shed light on the fact that it is okay and normal to be unsure about the future at different points in the college career, and that it is important to study what is most interesting to the student when deciding.

Next, Miranda went into detail about her research about Covid-19, what it entails and what she has uncovered. Miranda created a survey, or registry, which is available to everyone in Indiana, in two languages. The survey asks whether the participant is experiencing the physical symptoms of Covid-19. The survey also asks about the mental effects of Covid-19. She stated that the survey can distinguish between people who have had Covid and who have not had Covid. In order to gauge mental health, the survey includes the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety and Depression) Scale. This is a seven question scale. According to Miranda, a staggering 24% of the people who have responded to the survey responded in a way that indicates they are struggling with moderate to severe anxiety. Miranda connected this anxiety to the strange circumstances and struggles that the pandemic introduced. She explained that in times of high stress or uncertainty, it is the natural tendency of humans to want to gather with others who are experiencing the same thing, to hug, and to get through that time together. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of the pandemic, these natural ways of coping are stripped of us. Anxiety without coping mechanisms is truly a recipe for more anxiety, as she shared. 

Finally, Miranda delineated her new initiative, “Moment to See and Courage to Act.” This initiative encourages people to take this time of uncertainty to really analyze and understand the suffering and inequalities that are present in the world. In this time where everyone is dealing with this “trisis,” learning and taking a step back are extremely important.

Visit the event page for more.


  • “Herd immunity parties” are dangerous and irresponsible, and are a worry for experts. (23:05)
  • COVID-19 and anxiety/depression are very intertwined; in a time of such stress, all of our usual biological mechanisms for dealing with anxiety are taken away. (39:30)
  • Miranda introduced her new initiative, “Moment to See, Courage to Act,” which addresses the “trisis” going on in America: the pandemic, economic struggles, and racial inequality. (49:25)
  • Miranda discussed an essay she co-wrote with her daughter, which discusses the role of educators in the midst of the pandemic. There is more than one issue to be dealt with: physical health, mental health, and the impact on low resource and minority students. (54:40)
  • When discussing the pandemic with those who think it is a hoax, Miranda suggests having a “staying in the room conversation” which involves asking people why they think the way they do, and instead of writing them off, this approach emphasizes the importance of meeting them where they are so one can best explain the truth. (58:50)

  • “We are not trending well at all, and we are not going in the right direction.” (Heidi Beidinger, 17:35)
  • “24% of people are answering questions in a way that is indicative of moderate to severe anxiety.” (Marie Lynn Miranda, 39:57)
  • “We are primates…when things are happening, our natural ways are to gather and hug each other. Some of our natural ways of dealing with things are not available right now.” (Marie Lynn Miranda, 40:55)
  •  “We are in a trisis right now: we have Covid-19, economic dislocation, and protests and about the long-standing history of racial injustice.” (Marie Lynn Miranda, 49:25)
  • “This is a moment in our history for us to really see the suffering and to see the inequalities.” (Marie Lynn Miranda, 50:21)