[Entm-researchstaff] Federici giving the annual Dickson Lecture

[Rick Redak]

All,
Please see the information below and congrats to Brian for receiving the
Dickson Award.  Along with the award, Brian will presenting a talk on May
7.  Information to attend it below.

Rick
Wasp Evolution Tricks Scientists

Displaying until May 7, 2024

The UCR Retirees’ (UCRRA) and Emeriti (UCREA) Associations invites you to
attend the upcoming Edward A. Dickson Emeritus/a Lecture Talk Series. Each
year three retired UCR faculty are awarded Edward A. Dickson Professorships
to support their research, teaching, or public service activities. In the
year following their awards, Dickson Professors give public presentations
of their work.

*“Wasp Evolution Tricks Scientists”*

*Presenter*: Dickson awardee Brian A. Federici | *Date*: Tuesday, May 7,
2024

*Time*: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. | *Location*: In-person at University Village 1101
and Livestreamed via Zoom

*Description*

Professor Federici studies viruses, bacteria, and fungi that attack
insects, with research funded during his career by the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF). Federici’s focus has
been the biology of natural pathogens, or those genetically engineered, as
replacements for chemical insecticides. During the 1970’s, Federici became
interested in particles female parasitic wasps inject with eggs into
caterpillars that help wasp larvae avoid innate immunity and kill their
hosts during development. For five decades the particles were considered
virions, the infectious agents for viruses known as polydnaviruses (PDVs).
In papers published in 1991, 2003, and 2010, he argued the particles were
not virions, but rather immunosuppressive organelles that evolved from
virions. These papers were ignored until 2023 when prominent virologists at
NIH also concluded PDV virions were not virions, thus PDVs are not viruses.
Federici's Dickson Lecture will focus on this case of scientific tribalism,
showing how science can err when research leaders knowingly misinterpret
data that contradict their long-held ideas.

*Refreshments will be provided*



*Event Registration*

All are welcome to attend. Priority seating is given to members of the UCR
Retirees’ and Emeriti Associations who must register by April 5, 2024.
Registration will open to UCR and the public on April 6, 2024.



To join *in-person* or through *livestreaming* the event, please register
to receive the event details on the Retirement Center webpage at:
https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5Ab6ERyKlbArD5Y.


The invitation flyer can be viewed and downloaded on the retirees and
emeriti webpage at:
https://live-ucr-retirees.pantheonsite.io/document/s24-dickson-flyer-dr-federici
.

*A Special Thank You to Our Co-Sponsors*

UCR Osher

UCR Office of Gift Planning


We welcome you, your family and friends to join us!



Sincerely,


UCR Retirees’ and Emeriti Associations

retirees at ucr.edu
Rick Redak, Professor & Chair
Department of Entomology
University of California
Riverside, CA 92526
951-295-3930 (Cell)
951-827-7250 (Office)
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