Humans are constantly in contact with animal pathogens. Some of them frequently spill over into humans. A minority of these spill-overs result in local outbreaks, and some of these outbreaks develop into pandemics. Some pandemic viruses of the past kept circulating and are still infecting humans, while others disappeared. Professor Neher will discuss how researchers track viruses in animals and humans, how viruses adapt when they move from one host to another, and how the keep changing once they have become endemic like the flu.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Richard Neher studied physics in Munich,Germany, and spent 3 years as a post-doctoral fellow at KITP. In 2010, he became Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute in Tuebingen, Germany, and in 2017 Associate Professor at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Richard Neher started studying viral evolution during his time at KITP more than 10 years ago. He is co-founder of Nextstrain, a pioneering platform to track the evolution of viruses in real time.

DIRECTIONS (FROM THE NORTH OR SOUTH)

The New Vic Theater 33 W Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

From US-101, take the Carrillo Street exit. Turn left if coming from the north or right if coming from the south onto Carrillo Street. Go four blocks and turn left onto Chapala Street. Go three blocks to Victoria Street. The venue is on your right. 

PARKING

Parking is available on the street and in City Lot 5 (off Chapala Street between Anapamu and Victoria streets).