Dear all,

6.00pm, Tuesday 10 July 2012 " The good, the bad and the ugly: evolution and life history of parasitism" - ZSL Communicating science series

Please find information on the July Communicating science event, which has been organised by Jon Bielby (Institute of Zoology)

The talks will begin at 6.00pm on Tuesday, 10 July 2012 in the ZSL Meeting Rooms. The talks and question period after are free and open to everyone; doors will be open from 5.00pm on the evening and seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis – please arrive early to ensure you get a good seat!

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: EVOLUTION AND LIFE HISTORY OF PARASITISM

Parasites are defined as ‘organisms that feed on one host, causing harm, but not necessarily immediate death’. To most people their name provokes images of ticks, tapeworms and leeches (often accompanied by an involuntary shudder).

While parasites may seem most notable to us in their apparent grotesqueness and oddity, we generally underestimate the scope, diversity and importance of parasites in our everyday lives and the natural world.

This meeting will include an overview of the fascinating world of parasites, and give examples of how they manipulate the behaviour of their host, how they may alter their own behaviour and life history to maximise their reproductive success, and, importantly, how they have played a central role in the evolution of life on earth, including the development of human life and society.

Speakers:

Fear of fungi: Emerging fungal threats to animal, plant and ecosystem health
Dr. Matthew Fisher, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Pandemic HIV – Where? When? How? and Why?
Professor Dorothy Crawford of the Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh

Host manipulation by parasites: diversity, evolution and ecological significance
Dr Frédéric THOMAS (IRD/CNRS, Montpellier, France)

Chaired and organised by Jon Bielby, Institute of Zoology

DINNER WITH THE SPEAKERS

A 3-course dinner with the speakers will follow this Communicating science event. Places for dinner must be booked by Wednesday, 4 July. Please download the Sargasso Sea dinner booking form for further details and please forward to others who might be interested. Further information can also be found at www.zsl.org/science/scientific-meetings

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

With thanks and best wishes

Megan Orpwood-Russell

Scientific Events Co-ordinator

Zoological Society London

Regents Park, London NW1 4RY

Tel: +44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 74496411

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www.zsl.org

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