World-renowned Harvard scientist to give public lecture [9 June]

Professor Nancy Krieger

Press release issued: 5 June 2017

World-renowned Harvard University scientist, Professor Nancy Krieger will be giving a free public lecture [9 June] around health inequities using examples from her recent studies into US mortality, the reporting of US civilian deaths due to police violence, breast cancer, and the shadow of Jim Crow. The event is to mark the launch on Friday 9 June of the new Bristol Population Health Science Institute at the University of Bristol.

Event to mark launch of Bristol Population Health Science Institute

During her lecture, Professor Krieger will also discuss how the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) presents “health disparities” in its strategic documents and and how official documents mention “race” but avoid discussing racism, along with a new policy that requires researchers to address “sex as a biological variable,” with no requirements to consider gender.

Professor Krieger, Professor of Social Epidemiology at Harvard University said: “I am delighted to be presenting this public lecture as part of the launch of Bristol Population Health Science Institute. Research into population health plays a pivotal role in understanding how aspects of people's lives such as work, dignity, love, play, conflict, discrimination, and injustice all have the potential to manifest in our health, individually and collectively. This knowledge is critical in developing interventions to improve public health and minimise the inequitable burdens of disease, disability, and death.”

Bristol Population Health Science is an internationally-leading centre for research into the determinants, consequences, prevention and treatment of ill-health. The Institute encompasses many fields from basic discovery science in molecular and genetic epidemiology to innovative public health, primary care and clinical trials and policy-influencing activities and tackles a wide range of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health, anti-microbial resistance, respiratory health and many others.

Leading up to Professor Krieger’s lecture in the evening, the Institute’s launch will comprise a series of free daytime public talks by University of Bristol scientists from across Population Health Science disciplines, including child health, genetic and epigenetic epidemiology, causal inference and mechanisms, health services research and trials, primary care, public health and mental health and health, law, and society.

The launch takes place on Friday 9 June with talks taking place from 10 am (registration at 9.30 am). The public lecture by Professor Nancy Krieger entitled ‘Challenging biological essentialism: embodied histories & health inequities’ begins at 5.30 pm until 6.30 pm (Arrival and registration from 5pm). The launch is being held at Arnolfini Contemporary Arts Centre. Please email population-health@bristol.ac.uk with any access or dietary requirements.

Further information

Nancy Krieger is Professor of Social Epidemiology and American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of the HSPH Interdisciplinary Concentration on Women, Gender, and Health. She is an internationally recognised social epidemiologist, with a background in biochemistry, philosophy of science, and history of public health, plus 30+ years of activism involving social justice, science, and health.