A Monumental Task: Reclaiming Science in a Nation Banning Books and Denying a Pandemic

Featuring Dr. Ali Khan

The pandemic has tested our nation in ways we hoped to never experience. Social media and news reports depicting rising cases, new variants, and lockdowns have led to pandemic fatigue and the rise of misinformation and disinformation. COVID19 has unearthed the reality that we were not only unprepared for a worldwide pandemic, but often distrust scientific advancement. This talk will discuss the history of scientific distrust through topics such as banned books, evolution, sex education, climate change, and the anti-vaccine movement, while emphasizing the importance of reclaiming the role of science in our polarized society.

Ali Khan is Dean of the College of Public Health at UNMC & a former Assistant Surgeon General with the US Public Health Service. As Dean his focus is on health system & community-based health transformations. His vision is for the College to play an integral role in creating the next generation of Public Health Guardians.

Dr. Khan’s career has focused on health security, global health, & emerging infectious diseases. He completed a 23-year career as a senior director at the CDC where he was one of the main architects of their national health security. He continues to actively support global outbreak responses as a member of WHO & GOARN. Dr. Khan is the author of The Next Pandemic: On the Front Lines Against Humankind’s Gravest Dangers.

February’s Creative Morning’s theme is Monumental – When we call something monumental, we mean it as a matter of scale. Societies erect statues and build squares and dedicate memorials to prevent the past from being buried. These structures loom large and cast long shadows. They are meant to endure, to keep our ancestors alive in our memories, but sometimes they dwarf the living and engulf life itself.
.
What does it mean to think on a monumental timescale? To honor the past in such a way that it paves a path for the unfolding of the present? We have no way of knowing if our memories will outlive us, if they will manage to travel the vastness of space and time. But there are people in the future who will need our stories, stories capacious enough to hold all of our humanity. So what will you bear witness to? What will you leave behind when you’re gone?

Learn more about CreativeMornings ⟶

COVID Contingency Plan: If we feel that there are significant health and safety concerns, we reserve the right to postpone (ideally) or cancel (unfortunately) any event.

Masks are required when visiting or attending an event at KANEKO.