January 27, 2023   3:00 - 4:30PM

Dark Winter - past lessons to inform future health

A review of pandemics and biosecurity over time, with key insights for prevention and response - today and tomorrow

We are so excited to welcome highly respected and world-leading epidemiologist and biosecurity expert Dr. Raina MacIntyre, who literally "wrote the book" on pandemics and their prevention. She will share some highlights from her recent book, Dark Winter through the lens of the COVID pandemic, and participate in a dialogue on ways we can all make a difference in our workplaces and communities.

Dr. MacIntyre will be hosted by Dr. Kevin Hedges, Ph.D., CIH, COH, Occupational Hygienist at OHCOW

The format is a short presentation followed by time for questions, answers and discussion. The Conversation will be recorded and streamed on FaceBook.

Register today to join the conversation!

In Dark Winter, Raina MacIntyre provides insights into historical biological attacks, lab accidents and epidemics, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She reveals a recurrent theme of denial, silence and cover-up around unnatural epidemics and the powerful vested interests at play. Using the lens of history, MacIntyre also provides a glimpse into new frontiers of biosecurity. Dark Winter outlines quantum advances in genetic engineering and synthetic biology, and a future where human genome editing and resurrection of extinct viruses might be the norm. MacIntyre argues that the solution to the existential threat we face from biotechnology will not come from scientists, but from the community having a voice in the future of the planet and humanity.

She is a physician, epidemiologist and Professor of Global Biosecurity at UNSW and adjunct Professor at Arizona State University. She leads research in epidemic control, vaccinology and aerosol science. She is an expert in outbreak detection and mitigation, including that arising from bioterrorism and biological warfare. She has a 28-year track record in pandemics, epidemic infections, serious emerging infections, vaccines and control of respiratory viruses. She has worked as a clinician in hospitals, as an epidemiologist in a health department and as a researcher. In 2022, MacIntyre won the Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science and Innovation.

More info at https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/professor-raina-macintyre the webinar that Dr. McIntyre graciously provided previously through Workplace Health Without Borders International.