Keynote to Highlight Infectious Disease Research

"Sentinels of Climate Change- Vibrios and Aeromonads " Keynote Address at Department of Biology Research Symposium

Friday, Sept. 12, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Rita R. Colwell will be the keynote speaker at the annual symposium hosted by the Catholic University's biology department. Colwell is a professor in the department of cell biology and molecular genetics at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, senior advisor and chairman emeritus of Canon U.S. Life Sciences, and chairman of CosmosID Incorporated.

Colwell served as the first female director of the National Science Foundation from 1998 to 2004. She has held many advisory positions in the U.S. government and was awarded the 2006 National Medal of Science given by the president of the United States. She is an honorary member of microbiological societies in more than six countries including Bangladesh and Australia. A geological site in Antarctica, Colwell Massif, is named in her honor. Colwell's main interests are global infectious disease, water, and health.

The biology department's annual symposium highlights the research being conducted in the department. The event will begin with a light breakfast at 8:45 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Colwell's lecture at 1:30 is free and open to the public.

For further information contact Frank Portugal, clinical associate professor and director of the M.S. in biotechnology program in the biology department, at portugal@cua.edu . Individuals requesting accommodations for disabilities should contact cua-access@cua.edu .