Mathematics Meets AI

A Visit from Professor Jae Kyoung Kim

How can mathematics and artificial intelligence work together to make us healthier and happier?

This question was asked by Professor Jae Kyoung Kim from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), who presented at the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University. He shared his research on “Mathematics Meets AI: Modeling Time-series to Transform Human Health and Society.”

Prof Kim’s visit was facilitated by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Stellenbosch University International, and the school. Professor Kim leads the Biomedical Mathematics Group at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Korea and holds adjunct appointments at Korea University’s Medical School and New York University. His visit brought together students, researchers, and staff from across the university who share an interest in the power of data and computation to answer pressing questions about human well-being.

Prof Kim used simple mathematics and AI methods to ask deep questions. “Mathematics and AI are not just tools – they are powerful languages that can help us solve some of humanity’s biggest health challenges,” he said.

Understanding Disease Through Data

One of the examples in Prof Kim’s talk tackled a problem that has puzzled researchers for years: How exactly does climate affect the spread of dengue fever? Using an approach called General ODEBased Inference (GOBI), his team has found new ways to detect causeand-effect relationships in complex time-series data. Their analysis shows that rainfall and temperature influence dengue outbreaks, but the effect changes from one region to another, depending on the regularity of rainfall.

This breakthrough, published in Nature Communications (2023) and Science Advances (2025), could help shape more responsive public-health policies in countries vulnerable to mosquito-borne disease. It is a vivid reminder of how maths can do more than describe the world, it can help us manage it.

Rethinking Sleep and Alertness

Prof Kim then shifted from mosquitoes to sleep a topic that affects everyone. His team discovered that simply sleeping seven to nine hours a night does not guarantee alertness. By combining mathematical models of sleep pressure and circadian rhythm with data from wearable devices, they can measure whether each night’s sleep is truly sufficient.

This research, done in collaboration with medical scientists at Samsung Medical Center and Korea University, led to a practical outcome: an algorithm that can be used to track daily sleep sufficiency.

Beyond better sleep tracking, the same mathematical insights are helping predict mood changes and mental-health episodes using only sleep-wake data.

It is a great example of a mathematical biology model that can be deployed inside a commercial wearable to increase happiness and alertness.

Making Sense of Antibiotic Resistance

In the final part of his talk, Prof Kim addressed another global challenge: why antibiotics sometimes fail.

His group used a new AI-driven method, the Density-Physics Informed Neural Network (Density-PINN), to peer into what he calls “black-box” biological processes. By analysing the timing of cellular responses, they found that the reason antibiotics sometimes don’t work lies in the diversity of bacterial behaviour at the microscopic level.

This work, published in Cell Patterns (2024), demonstrates that different bacteria respond to antibiotics with varying delays, some quickly, others much later. Understanding these timing differences could guide the design of more effective treatments.

PREVIOUS PAGE: The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to South Africa, Dong-han Yang, greets Randall Adams, with Prof Kim at the back.

LEFT: Participants at the the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking presentation.

BELOW: The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to South Africa, Dong-han Yang, Prof Kim, and Prof Kanshukan Rajaratnam.

Building Bridges Through Science

Prof Kim’s visit was not only about equations and algorithms. It was also about collaboration. He invited students and researchers to explore opportunities in Korea through programmes such as the K-Brain Visiting Scholar Program, KAIST Jang Young Sil Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the Global Korea Scholarship for researchers, postgraduate, and undergraduate students.

His talk underscored the shared vision between KAIST and Stellenbosch University: that data, computation, and human curiosity together can transform the way we understand health, society, and the environment. “Collaboration across countries and disciplines is essential if we want to make real impact on health and society,” said Prof. Jae Kyoung Kim.

As the seminar concluded, one message stood out clearly. Mathematics and AI are not just computational tools, but they are languages through which we can understand life itself.

The Director of the School, Prof Rajaratnam reflected on the visit, “For the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, this visit was another step in building global connections and showcasing how transdisciplinary research, linking researchers mathematics, health, and AI as well as industry/community partners, can help solve some of humanity’s most complex problems.”

We are grateful to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Stellenbosch University International in facilitating this visit.