About the Symposium

The Honors Day Science Symposium at St. Olaf College celebrates the contributions of the natural sciences and mathematics to the college and to society. Founded in 1999, the symposium seeks to highlight undergraduate research, to explore a topic in contemporary research and to enable the St. Olaf community and the public to interact with invited guests working at the forefront of their fields.

Emerging Infectious Diseases: The Unseen Threat

Infectious diseases are evolving rapidly in the modern world due to microbial adaptation, increased travel and commerce, a breakdown of public heath measures and a growing population. Practical and ethical issues arise from the need to ration care when these diseases -- such as SARS or the avian flu -- create a public-health crisis. During this year's Honors Day Science Symposium, three renowned experts will discuss the new approaches required to detect and manage emerging infectious diseases and the unseen threat these diseases represent.

Past Symposia