Acclaimed science writer discusses ‘Planet of Viruses’ in online seminar

Carl Zimmer
Carl Zimmer

Award-winning science author and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer will discuss his book “Planet of Viruses” in an online talk at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 9.

The book explores “the hidden world of” viruses and unveils how they “hold sway over the biosphere, how they produce new diseases and how we can harness viruses for our own ends,” according to Zimmer’s website. In addition to discussing his work, the writer will answer audience questions from the Zoom chat. 

The talk is part of the 2021 School of Biology and Ecology Seminar Series. The school hosts each seminar at 2 p.m. every Friday via Zoom. Zimmer’s talk is sponsored by both the School and UMaine Institute of Medicine.

To obtain a Zoom link for the event, which is the same used for the overall seminar series; seek additional information or request reasonable accommodations, contact Peg Killian, peggy.killian@maine.edu. Access will be prioritized for students, faculty and staff from the School of Biology and Ecology and Institute of Medicine. Anyone unable to attend via Zoom can watch the livestream on the School of Biology and Ecology YouTube page. 

Zimmer, who also serves as an adjunct professor of Biophysics and Biochemistry and Lecturer in English, has authored 14 science texts, and the New York Times publishes his column “Matter” each week.