This week, I'm (virtually) attending the annual meeting of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), one of the largest gatherings of folks doing the day-to-day work of public health in the United States. Yes, there is plenty of COVID-19 discussion, but that is far from the only topic. Each day there are hundreds of talks and posters about investigations, research, and applied science that will never make headlines. We are all probably more aware than we'd like to be about public health activities … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Silent Science
public health
Science Corner: Slowing Down to Build Trust
The votes are in, the bracket is complete, and we have a most pressing science & faith question: How much should science inform religious practice? If I thought my seedings had any meaning, this would be a Cinderella story, the lowest seed in the Theology & Religion going on to take it all. Now that the results are known, I'll work on getting you some answers to the last quartet of questions, so stay tuned for those. In the mean time, I had planned on bringing you some science news about honeybee communication. But in … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Slowing Down to Build Trust
Science Corner: Immunization is a Team Sport
The Most Pressing Science & Faith Question tournament has reached the final round; scroll down or click here to vote between now and midnight EDT on Sunday (April 11). We're going to take a break from answering these questions while I line up other folks to offer their perspectives. This week, I'd like to address some omissions from the bracket. Arguably, the most pressing science & faith questions of the moment have to do with religiously motivated COVID-19 vaccine refusal. I left out pandemic topics in part because I … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Immunization is a Team Sport
Science Corner: Recognizing the Discovery of Hepatitis C
Having spent a little time looking at the Ig Nobel prizes, let's give some attention to this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded equally to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice "for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus." Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted by direct blood contact, such as a blood transfusion or sharing of needles for intravenous drug use. Knowing that the virus exists, how it is transmitted, and how to detect it has significantly increased the safety of our blood … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Recognizing the Discovery of Hepatitis C
Science Corner: Loving One’s Neighborhood
Since my job is in the public health sphere, and since I have training on the biology of infectious diseases, it seemed like I should comment on the coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, I wasn't sure I had anything to add. I don't have special access to case counts the rest of you don't; my recommendations aren't any different than what you'd find on the CDC website or in reporting like this segment from CBS Sunday Morning. What I do have, I suppose, is a little insight into our public health system which I thought … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Loving One’s Neighborhood