I have always enjoyed the wordplay on this idiom. "the day pig's fly" The now overused, " the day I find feathers on my bacon" was fun while it lasted. I do so enjoy Zapiro's observant erudite wit. How fortunate for his art that news of South Africa's new President and the announcement of a possible pandemic did indeed share newsprint :-) Brilliant!!!
A while ago, this related stimulating invite arrived in my inbox:
Professor Barry Schoub talks on the H1N1 virus at the next Darwin lecture.
SWINE FLU - THE 2009 PANDEMIC: A PARADIGM OF BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION IN ACTION
Professor Barry Schoub will deliver the next Darwin Lecture. As Executive Director for the National Institute for Communicable Diseases he has been in the news recently commenting on the formal declaration of the first pandemic of influenza in this country - the H1N1 virus, commonly called Swine Flu. The influenza virus, one of the most enigmatic of all human viruses, is a perfect model of real-time evolutionary adaptation to selective pressures and as part of the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin lecture series, he looks at the future course of this pandemic by reviewing past pandemics which have some common features but also some very distinctive differences.
Thursday 23 July
"Swine flu - the pandemic threat: a paradigm of biological evolution in action"
Time: 5.30 for 6pm
Venue: New Learning Centre, Anatomy building, Health Sciences Campus, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory
Anyone who knows me understands that I am a science geek and find things like this appealing. Ok, so I also happen to have a career in genetics but other people’s research and knowledge is always more thrilling and sexy.
The plan: I leave work a bit early to avoid traffic (Stellenbosch into town can be hectic). Pick up my other from The Old Castle Brewery and head the UCT.
I arrive a bit early so a play on the DS a bit while he finishes up work and then we’re off again.
Driving in Woodstock during peak traffic felt like it might as well have been the lawless and really wild west! Buses and taxis the equivalent of ruthless stagecoach drivers and the pedestrians as unherded cattle. I wished that Adam, who was riding ‘shotgun’, actually wielded a weapon. *grimace*
The talk itself was rewarding, once we found the pink building and got into those new-fangled horribly designed swing seats attached to low desks in the tiered lecture hall.
Firstly, I must mention Africa Genome, a very cool organisation that promotes public knowledge of molecular biology and science. *Applause* I have attended a few other public lectures planned by the institute and think they are super. (One in particular stands out, Art & the genome by Fritha Langerman, another thing I like: credible art+science, kinda renaissance-ish ;-)
So, Prof Schoub did a fantastic job of simplifying what could have been an overly complex topic, the evolution of the virus. He described the nitty gritty succinctly – I admit, I wanted more! He spoke of past pandemics and how WHO classifies them.
He spoke of flu viruses. It’s a bird thing (the flu flew- tee hee), then a piggy incubator thing, and lastly, a human thing. He told us the history (Spanish influenza). He quashed media hype and paranoia. He dealt with facts. He’s a scientist. I liked him. He’s kin.
Question time was fun, I just sat back and listened:
How do you explain this topic to people who don’t believe in evolution?
*giggles and snorts from scientists at a gathering celebrating Darwin* It was a cute little dig. I can’t actually remember his answer but I think “with difficulty” was part of it. (reminds me to blog about the Darwinism must die…essay ;-)
What about the fear of vaccination by some members of the public?
*more grunts and groans form the non-ignorant audience re- unsubstantiated nonsensical unscientific mass stupidity* A: We’re working on public awareness, vaccines are well tested and safe. (reminded me of stats that deaths from mumps and measles increased after years of low infection/mortality rates because of unvaccinated kids).
Oh, here’s an excellent Ars Technical inky that covers the influenza basics, which Prof Schoub made even more digestible for the public.
No comments:
Post a Comment