Join us on February 26 at 7 pm as Professor of Biology Grant Hokit, Ph.D. presents “The Not-So-Innocents Abroad: The Travels of Animal-Borne Disease.” This is the second lecture of the 2019-2020 Carroll Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Ebola, Zika and now coronavirus are but a few examples of diseases that have emerged in recent years and that are spread by animals. In fact, 75% of new diseases in humans result from contact with animals. West Nile Virus is one of the most persistent examples in Montana responsible for 622 human cases and four outbreaks in the state since 2002. After reviewing ongoing West Nile Virus research in Montana, Dr. Grant Hokit will describe the similarities and differences with other animal-borne diseases that are emerging and spreading across the globe at increasing rates affecting humans, livestock and wildlife populations. In particular, Dr. Hokit will discuss current hypotheses on the biological, geographic and anthropological factors thought to be driving recent outbreaks and the potential for pandemics.

About Grant Hokit:
As a landscape ecologist interested in biogeography, infectious disease and animal behavior, Dr. Hokit has served Carroll College for 24 years as a professor of biology with some administrative assignments and more recently as a Senior Research Associate. Since 2009, he has been part of a team of scientists from Carroll and Montana State University along with colleagues at tribal colleges, county, state and federal agencies that have implemented a statewide surveillance program to detect West Nile Virus in mosquito populations. He was the 2004 recipient of Carroll's Outstanding Teaching Award, has been a Project Director for a Howard Hughes Medical Institute award received by Carroll, and has been a Principal Investigator for numerous research awards.

About the Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series:
The Carroll Distinguished Lecture Series features Carroll faculty sharing their scholarly and creative work with the Carroll and Helena communities. There will be three lectures per year, providing opportunities for community members to learn about relevant and meaningful topics of our time.