Watson Lecture - Bil Clemons: Combating Future Pandemics with Viruses

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While we are no strangers to pandemics, medicine is ill-prepared for the rapid increase in bacterial infections that cannot be treated. To prevent the return to the era before penicillin, we must develop new strategies for killing pathogenic bacteria. One option is to harness bacteria's oldest enemy, the viruses known as phages. In this talk, Bil Clemons, the Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor of Biochemistry, will share his lab's work to understand the methods some phages have evolved to kill bacteria. He will further explain how this work can be leveraged for new therapies and new biological tools. Clemons is also the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's science program officer for diversity, equity, and inclusion in science.

Evening Schedule

6 p.m. — Activities and music. Food, drinks, and books available for purchase

7 p.m. — Doors open

7:30 p.m. — Talk and Q&A

8:30 p.m. — Post-talk concessions and conversation

The live event is in-person and a recording will be made available on our Youtube channel.

About the Series

For more than 100 years, the Watson Lectures have brought the wonder of Caltech research and discovery to the public.

Free and open to the public, the Watson Lecture Series offers a unique and accessible opportunity to learn more about cutting-edge science directly from Caltech's premier researchers. Come early to mingle with your neighbors over food, drink and music, as well as interactive displays related to the evening's topic. Then head inside to hear a stimulating talk and stay to ask your burning questions.

Many past Watson Lectures are available on YouTube.

For more information, please contact The Caltech Ticket Office by email at [email protected].