Wadsworth Center Deputy Director Dr. James Chithalen presented the 36th Leonard A. Ford Lectureship at Minnesota State University Mankato. The lectureship is supported by Barbara Olson and Joyce Anderson in honor of their father, Leonard A. Ford, a former faculty member and chair of Mankato’s Chemistry Department and later its Division of Science and Mathematics. Ford was a widely published scientist, particularly in science education, and author of Chemical Magic. Previous Ford Lectureship speakers have included accomplished scientists ranging from internationally recognized alumni to Nobel laureates.
Dr. Chithalen delivered two presentations: a scientific lecture for undergraduate students, “The Science Behind the Public Health Laboratory,” and an evening community lecture, “How Can You Make a Difference with Science?” Both lectures are available online:
- Morning lecture — begins approximately 15 minutes and 35 seconds into the recording.
- Evening lecture — begins approximately 11 minutes and 20 seconds into the recording.
- Radio interview promoting the evening lecture.
Through the lectures, Dr. Chithalen sought to make public health science more understandable and accessible to a broad audience. Feedback from students, faculty, and community members indicated that the presentations strengthened their understanding of public health laboratory work and trust in public health messengers. The university president, provost, and dean attended and were actively engaged throughout the evening lecture.