November 17, 2023

Climate change and health: Microbial threats and microbial solutions

9:00 am

Location

Hybrid Attendance - Register Here

Registration closes 11:59PM November 10, 2023

(to cancel your registration please email weaverd@umich.edu)

All events are FREE and open to the public but please register so we can provide appropriate quantities of food.  Thank you!

Event Description

Climate change and health: Microbial threats and microbial solutions

a joint symposium of MAC-EPID & ITiMS

 

 Agenda for FRIDAY 11/17/2023:
 
 

9:00 AM - Sign In and light refreshments

Please pick up your nametag when you arrive and then enjoy light refreshments

 
 

9:15 AM - Opening Remarks  

Betsy Foxman, PhD (Hunein F. and Hilda Maassab Endowed Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (MAC-EPID),  Co-Director of the Integrated Training program in Microbial Systems (ITiMS))

 
 
 

9:30 AM - "Heat Stress, Thermal Adaptation and The Rise of Fungal Diseases"  

 

Asiya Gusa, PhD

Assistant Professor Molecular Genetics & Microbiology

Duke University

Introduced by student

Rising temperatures and climate change are predicted to increase the incidence of fungal diseases and to cause new fungal pandemics. We study the genetic and molecular adaptations to heat stress that drive adaptation and evolution among disease-causing fungi.

 
 
 

10:30 AM - Break with snacks

 
 
 

11:00 AM -  "Harnessing microbiome solutions to climate change"  

 

Steven Allison, PhD

Professor of Ecology

University of California, Irvine

Introduced by student 

Prof. Allison studies the role of microbes in soil carbon and nutrient cycling at molecular through global scales. He integrates mathematical models and empirical data to improve predictions of climate change feedbacks in the Earth system.

 
 
 

12:00 PM - Luncheon

We try to be inclusive with our complimentary lunch but if you have dietary restrictions, please plan to bring your own food.

Our vegetarian lunch buffet is catered

 
 
 

1:30 PM - "A framework for illuminating the rules of microbiome response to climate change"  

 

Virginia Rich, PhD

Associate Professor of Microbiology 

Ohio State University

Introduced by student

Our lab engages in climate change microbiome science in the "genes-to-ecosystems" framework.  We use molecular microbial ecology techniques and strong partnerships with biogeochemists, informaticians, and modelers to investigate how microbes respond to, and mediate, environments undergoing anthropogenic change. We're a diverse group of scientists, working together on a "systems-level" understanding of microbial community interactions with the environment. I also co-direct the NSF EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, a 100-scientist-strong group endeavoring to map the rules by which microbes are responding to climate change in a thawing Arctic peatland. 

 

We are proud that since our beginning in 2003, MAC-EPID symposia have been free and open to all!

Made possible by our student volunteers and our sponsors: 

Integrated Training in Microbial Systems (ITiMS), Gudakunst Lectureship, MAC-EPID, Dept of Epidemiology, and Public Health.  

MAC-EPID symposia are also supported through donations from people like you.

Thank you!