2021 Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom Series

UC San Diego has been ahead of tomorrow for 60 years, with award-winning faculty and acclaimed researchers who work at the edge of their fields to challenge convention and solve some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. As part of our 60th anniversary celebration this year, I am pleased to share the first in a series of five, virtual events between February and June called Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom to showcase the expertise and unique perspectives of our campus community.

I’d like to invite you to join us this Monday, February 22 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. PST for The Fear Factor: Examining Mistrust and Vaccines. During this free, online event, we will explore mistrust and negative public perceptions of vaccines, their historical drivers, how we can address past injustices and build confidence in this important piece of healthcare technology as our nation and the world embark on a vaccination campaign that is critical to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our thought-provoking and insightful discussion will include:

Welcome remarks from David Brenner, MD, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences,
Featured commentary from Victor Nizet, MD, Professor, UC San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, who will share historical context and perspective on the science of vaccines; and David “Davey” Smith, MD, MAS, Professor, UC San Diego School of Medicine, who will discuss the science behind the current COVID-19 vaccine.
Cheryl Anderson, PhD, MPH, MS, Dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, will moderate an interactive, dynamic panel discussion featuring Dr. Nizet and Dr. Smith, as well as
- Keolu Fox, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, who will speak to ethnic and cultural perspectives and implications based on his background in human genetic variation and disease in underrepresented populations; and
- Danielle Raudenbush, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, who will share insights on cultural competence and disparities in public health based on her research into the health and well-being of minorities and low-income people in the United States.

I hope you’ll join us for this unique opportunity to learn how UC San Diego, our faculty and researchers are challenging convention to understand and confront this provocative and pressing societal concern. Register today.

For more information and updates on featured topics and dates for upcoming Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom, visit our 60th anniversary website.

Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor