HSPH Faculty Participated in AAAS Conference in Boston

The annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) concluded on February 18 after four days of more than 150 symposia, special events, plenary, and topical lectures. The theme was Science and Technology from a Global Perspective.

Numerous HSPH faculty were scheduled to deliver lectures:

Milton Weinstein, Henry J. Kaiser Professor of Health Policy and Management, Departments of Health Policy and Management and Biostatistics, delivered "An Overview of Health Economic Evaluations for the Informed Citizen."

Jack Shonkoff, Julius B. Richmond FAMRI Professor of Child Health and Development, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, discussed "Using Neuroscience to Inform Public Policy for Children Living in Poverty."

Walter Willett, chair of the Department of Nutrition, spoke about "Diet and Cancer: Three Paradigms."

Dyann Wirth, chair of the HSPH Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, described "Genetic Diversity in Plasmodium falciparum: Insights into Parasite Biology."

Felton Earls, professor of human behavior and development, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, discussed "Young Adolescents as Health Agents: Promoting HIV-Competent Communities in Tanzania."

Yuanli Liu, director of the HSPH China Initiative, spoke about "Advancing Evidence-based Health Policy in China Through International Collaboration."

Steven Gortmaker, professor of the practice of health sociology, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, and Shiriki Kumanyika, Yerby Visiting Professor, participated in a Town Hall on "Understanding Obesity and Childhood Nutrition."

Jim Yong Kim, director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at HSPH, participated in a Global Health Challenges Plenary Panel.

AAAS has issued a call for proposals for next year's meeting in Chicago, February 12 to 16, 2009.