On the evening of August 26, 2020 the first part of a series of online community fora on topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic was held. Sponsored by the Initiative for Science, Technology, Ethics and Society at Montana State University, Bozeman, it was titled, SPILLOVER: UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGINS OF PANDEMICS.

It featured presentations by award winning author, David Quammen, whose 2012 book, SPILLOVER: ANIMAL INFECTIONS AND THE NEXT HUMAN PANDEMIC, warned of coming pandemics; and Dr. Raina Plowright, Associate Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, who specializes in the dynamics of infectious diseases and the process of pathogen spillover from animals to humans.

Professor Kristen Intemann of the MSU History & Philosophy Department and Director of the Initiative for Science, Technology, Ethics and Society, moderated the discussion.

David Quammen                                            Dr. Raina Plowright

Dr. Kristen Intemann

You can find out more here: http://www.montana.edu/stes/