Geoffrey Bourne Lecture with Dr. Peter Daszak

President of EcoHealth Alliance will speak on connections between emerging diseases, wildlife conservation and global public health.

Zoo Atlanta is honored to welcome Dr. Peter Daszak, President of EcoHealth Alliance, as the guest speaker at the 11th Geoffrey Bourne Lecture on Thursday, October 4, 2018. Dr. Daszak will present “Emerging Diseases, Wildlife Conservation and Global Public Health.”

EcoHealth Alliance is a U.S.-based organization that conducts research and outreach programs on global health, conservation and international development. Dr. Daszak is a world leader in investigating the origins and impact of emerging diseases facing biodiversity and humankind. He confirmed the first case of a species extinction due to disease, and his research has been instrumental in identifying and predicting the impact of emerging diseases around the globe.

“Zoo Atlanta is very pleased to welcome Dr. Daszak as the newest speaker to present at the Geoffrey Bourne Lecture Series,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “The Geoffrey Bourne Lecture has a long and distinguished legacy of bringing some of the scientific community’s top minds to Atlanta to share insights and connections between humans, wildlife and conservation.”

The Geoffrey Bourne Lecture Series is a scholarly series that brings esteemed scientists, educators and conservationists to Atlanta. The Geoffrey Bourne Fund was established in 1999 to honor the late Dr. Bourne, the founding President of the Atlanta Zoological Society (AZS). The AZS was formed in 1970 to provide support for what was then known as the Atlanta Zoo. Dr. Bourne, who was at the time affiliated with Emory University’s Yerkes Primate Center, brought not only a love of the Zoo to his new role, but also a professional and scientific background which was instrumental in shaping the Zoo’s future mission. Under his leadership, the AZS implemented changes at the Zoo and worked to recruit other Atlantans to the cause while working to focus the Zoo’s mission on education and conservation.

The mission of the Geoffrey Bourne Fund is to recognize Dr. Bourne and his contributions to the development of Zoo Atlanta and the field of primatology – a present-day area of leadership for the Zoo – and to endow and implement the lecture series.

The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. in the Zoo’s Coca-Cola World Studio in the Conservation Action Resource Center (ARC). This opportunity is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Register online and learn more about Dr. Daszak’s work here.