One of the country’s leading authorities on diseases that can spread from animals to humans will be the 12th speaker in Kansas State University’s Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems lecture series.
Dr. Megin Nichols, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, director of the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, will speak on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in McCain Auditorium.
Her talk, titled “Where Animals, Data and Decisions Meet: A One Health Journey,” will explore the often-invisible thread that connects human health, animal populations and the environment. Admission is free and the lecture will be streamed live online.
One Health is CDC’s collaborative, multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary approach aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes for Americans by recognizing the connection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment.
“If you were to scan the newspaper on any given day,” Nichols says, “you’re likely to see something related to zoonotic diseases — diseases that can jump from animals to humans. These affect our health, our food supply and even our economy.”
It’s a subject Nichols has studied for decades, and one she says touches every person, whether they know it or not.
“These are everyday issues,” Nichols says. “And by understanding how these outbreaks happen, we can prevent future ones. That’s the heart of One Health.”
K-State established the Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems lecture series to provide science-based education about world food issues. The series allows students, faculty, staff and Kansas citizens to interact with U.S. and international food industry leaders on topics of current interest.
The lecture series is funded by the Gardiner family of Ashland, Kan. Henry C. Gardiner, who passed away just days before the 2015 lecture, was known as a visionary leader who dedicated his career to improving the beef industry through science and technology.
Visit the lecture series website for more information, as well as videos of past speakers.
