An internationally recognised expert on some of the world’s most infectious diseases will this week give an insight into some of the viruses that have grabbed and still make the headlines.
Sir Roy Anderson, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College, London, will deliver his Plagues and People lecture at the University of Aberdeen's Medical School on Thursday (May 31) at 5pm.
His talk will explore people's fascination with epidemics of infectious diseases and also outline a brief history of the origins of scientific study in this area.
Our changing world and past and current threats of infections including AIDS, SARS and pandemic influenza A will also be covered in the lecture which will end with an analysis of the UK's preparedness for an influenza pandemic.
Plagues and People has been organised by the University's College of Life Sciences and Medicine Graduate School which holds a keynote lecture every year.
Professor Jenny Mordue, Director of the Graduate School, said: "We are delighted to have such a distinguished speaker as our guest.
"We welcome Professor Sir Roy Anderson to the University of Aberdeen for what promises to be an important and fascinating talk in an area of great relevance to society"
Professor Anderson is currently on secondment to the Ministry of Defence as Chief Scientific Adviser, as well as being Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London. His previous positions include the Linacre Professorship and Head of Zoology, University of Oxford (1993-1998), Professor of Parasite Epidemiology and Head of Biology, Imperial College (1984-1993) and Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University of Oxford (1995-2000).
Roy Anderson is a Fellow of the Royal Society, The Academy of Medical Sciences and a Foreign Associate Member of the Institute of Medicine at the US National Academy of Sciences.
He has published over 450 scientific papers on the epidemiology, population biology, evolution and control of a wide variety of infectious disease agents, including HIV, BSE, Foot and Mouth Virus, vCJD, SARS, dengue virus, parasitic helminths and protozoa, and respiratory tract viral and bacterial infections.
His principal research interests are epidemiology, population biology, evolutionary biology, biomathematics, demography and parasitology. He also has a keen interest in science policy and the public understanding of science. He was knighted in the 2006 Birthday honours list.
He has held a wide variety of advisory and consultancy posts with Government departments, pharmaceutical companies and international aid agencies.
Professor Anderson will give his lecture in the Auditorium at the Medical School. The event is free and open to staff, students and the public.