The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animal Populations, Such as Deer, Gazelle and Buffalo

Vanessa Ezenwa, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale University and an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellow, will give the Pettingill Lecture in Natural History. Ezenwa studies the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases in wild animal populations, such as deer, gazelle and buffalo. Her lab work explores interesting questions such as whether group living and migration increase or decrease the negative effects of parasites in the wild.

Vanessa Ezenwa's Faculty Website

Slow Birding: The Art and Science of Enjoying Birds in Your Own Backyard

Joan Strassmann, an evolutionary biologist, U-M Biological Station alumna, the Charles Rebstock Professor of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, member of the National Academy of Sciences and author of “Slow Birding: The Art and Science of Enjoying Birds in Your Own Backyard,” will give the Hann Endowed Lecture in Ornithology. She will explain the fascinating world of common, everyday birds, such as blue jays, cardinals, robins and sparrows.

Joan Strassmann's Faculty Website

How Soil Organisms Impact the Global Carbon Cycle

Jennifer Pett-Ridge, a senior staff scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, will give the Bennett Lecture in Mycology and Plant Biology. Pett-Ridge, a leading soil scientist, examines natural land solutions and emerging carbon-friendly technologies designed to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Her talk will highlight her work building interdisciplinary teams to shed light on how soil organisms impact the global carbon cycle.

Jennifer Pett-Ridge's Website