Welcome back from Spring Break! Get back into the swing of things with some exciting science events. As always, if you want your event featured, email science@bwog.com!

Sputnik V and Russia’s New Vaccine Politics

  • Monday, March 8, 2021 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM, link here
  • “Vladimir Putin’s announcement in August 2020 that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine—Sputnik V—generated much fanfare domestically but was initially met with skepticism among expert global scientific communities. Now, with more published results from trials, we see wider acceptance of the claims of the vaccine’s efficacy and a surging global demand for the vaccine from around the world. Please join this distinguished panel of researchers and commentators as we explore how the vaccine was developed in Russia, the issues surrounding its scientific review, and how the Kremlin is now incorporating “vaccine diplomacy” into its broader foreign policy strategy.”

Decarbonizing Industry: Low-Carbon Production of Iron and Steel

  • Tuesday, March 9, 2021 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, link here
  • “Iron and steel production is one of the largest and most important commodity sectors in the global economy, accounting for more than $2.5 trillion of sales and tied to millions of jobs around the world.  The 1.8 billion tons of iron and steel made every year also contribute to global warming, accounting for more than 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Reducing emissions from this sector is a significant challenge, made more difficult because existing facilities will run for another 30-40 years on average and half the associated emissions are tied to the chemistry of iron production. Options to replace fuel and heat sources and reduce associated byproduct emissions are limited or expensive, and potential new solutions are not yet commercially available.”

Reporter Nights at SPS: Science Journalism in the Time of COVID-19

  • Tuesday, March 9, 2021 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, link here
  • Professor Dreifus and students in her class interview a panel of top science editors and reporters on their career paths, as well as the highlights and challenges of their day-to-day work. Panelists includeCo-Founder and Executive Editor of STAT Rick Berke, Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of The Open Notebook Siri Carpenter, Senior Multimedia Editor at Scientific American Jeffery DelViscio, Managing Editor at Inside Climate News Erica Goode, Vice News Producer Tony Lin, Deputy Editor at Quanta Magazine John Rennie, and Editor in Chief of Undark Magazine Tom Zeller.

Incarceration & Bioethics: Health Challenges That Need Our Attention

  • Wednesday, March 10, 2021 6:15 PM – 7:45 PM, link here
  • Columbia’s Bioethics program, in conjunction with the Center for Clinical Medical Ethics in the Department of Medicine, invites you to a lecture with guest speaker Dr. Homer Venters, a physician and epidemiologist working at the intersection of incarceration, health and human rights. Dr. Venters has recently been appointed to serve on the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. Since April 2020, Dr. Venters has focused on addressing COVID-19 responses in jails, prisons and immigration detention facilities. Dr. Venters is the former Chief Medical Officer of the NYC Correctional Health Services and author of Life and Death in Rikers Island. Dr. Venters has also worked in the nonprofit sector as the Director of Programs of Physicians for Human Rights and President of Community Oriented Correctional Health Service. Dr. Venters is a Clinical Associate Professor of the New York University College of Global Public Health.

Image via Shane Maughn