Environmental toxicology and politics are topic of Oct. 21 seminar at MC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 10, 2008
Contact: Maryville College Office of Communications
865.981.8207

“Toxicants, Science and Politics: How much risk are we willing to take?” is the title of a Maryville College science literacy seminar planned for 7:30 p.m., Oct. 21, in the Lawson Auditorium of Maryville College’s Fayerweather Hall.

Dr. Drew Crain, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Mark O’Gorman, associate professor of political science, will present data from current research and discuss the science and environmental policies of historically significant toxicants such as lead and mercury while also addressing contemporary issues regarding the toxicant bisphenol A.

The seminar is free and open to the public.

“The main question that environmental toxicology asks is, ‘Are we poisoning our environment and in effect, ourselves?’” said Dr. Mary Turner, the College’s assistant professor of chemistry. “This seminar seeks to educate the public on current research in the field of environmental toxicology and also to explore the public policy issues related to toxic releases.”

Crain earned his doctorate in zoology from the University of Florida and has taught a variety of biology classes at the College, including environmental toxicology and developmental biology. His scholarly research has included studying the effect of environmental contaminants on vertebrate physiology. Recently, he has been involved in research on the plasticizer bisphenol A.

Crain has more than 40 publications on these topics, many of which have been coauthored by MC students.

O’Gorman earned his doctorate in political science from Syracuse University and has taught courses ranging from science and technology policy to AIDS and health policy to environmental politics. O’Gorman has also spent time as a space policy analyst in Washington D.C., as well as working as a technology transfer specialist at a research facility dealing with environmental monitoring issues.

O’Gorman has also performed work on U.S. government- and European Union-sponsored projects related to environmental educations and wetlands remediation.

The Oct. 21 event will be the third presentation offered by the College’s Science Literacy Seminar Series.

Largely student-initiated and driven, the MC Science Literacy Seminar Series arose from in-class discussions and out-of-class faculty-student dialogue on culturally relevant science topics, including global warming and cancer biology. The series is designed to convey such topics to the general public in order to both provide a brief overview of the subject matter and quell the illusion that science is inaccessible to non-scientists.

For more information, contact Dr. Mary Turner at 865.273.8807 or mary.turner@maryvillecollege.edu.

Maryville College is ideally situated in Maryville, Tenn., between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville, the state's third largest city. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for its academic rigor and its focus on the liberal arts, Maryville is where students come to stretch their minds, stretch themselves and learn how to make a difference in the world. Total enrollment for the fall 2009 semester is 1,103.