A series of scientific lectures will begin later this month at St. John’s University with an inaugural address by world-renowned scientist Dr. Michael Osterholm.

The College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University will launch the Norman L. Ford Science Literacy Lecture Series in Pellegrene Auditorium in the Peter Engel Science Center at St. John’s. Professor Osterholm will give his remarks on infectious diseases of the 21^st century. He is an international leader on public health preparedness for infectious diseases. He is the author of more than 315 papers and abstracts, including 21 book chapters, and is recognized as a dynamic public speaker.

The Ford Lecture Series aims to address contemporary and cutting-edge scientific topics. The series is made possible through the support of a St. John’s graduate who wants to honor a biology professor he studied under, Norman Ford. Ford taught at St. Benedict and St. John’s from 1967 until he retired in 1998. He will return to campus for the lecture and will be honored by Interim Provost Richard Ice before Osterholm’s remarks.

The lectures will start at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29.