Inspirational speaker set to visit the Midlands

Atlantic Corridor is bringing an inspirational woman with Co Offaly connections to the Tullamore Court Hotel for a special public interview this Tuesday.

As part of its work in the area of science diaspora engagement and science education, local development company Atlantic Corridor, in collaboration with the ‘United States Embassy Creative Minds Series’, has announced the upcoming visit of inspirational speaker and author, Dr Mary Guinan to Tullamore later this month.

In her career in public health, Dr Guinan was at the forefront of the eradication of small pox. Today, smallpox is the only disease that mankind has eliminated from nature and it is a disease that killed at least two million people per year until its eradication.

During her barrier-crossing career, Dr Guinan met arms-seeking Afghan insurgents in Pakistan and got caught in the cross fire between religious groups in Lebanon. She treated some of the first AIDS patients and served as an expert witness in defence of a pharmacist who was denied employment for having HIV—leading to a landmark decision that still protects HIV patients from workplace discrimination.

Since the emergence of HIV, almost 78 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 39 million people have died. Randy Shilts’s best-selling book on the AIDS epidemic, And the Band Played On, features Dr Guinan’s AIDS work.

CEO of Atlantic Corridor and Director of the Midlands Science Festival, Jackie Gorman said, “in keeping with our overall strategic aims, a key focus for Atlantic Corridor is now being placed upon trying to build diaspora and global connections within the scientific and technology community in the main. Over the past number of years, Atlantic Corridor has been working to bring mentors or role models with science or technology backgrounds into Midlands’ secondary schools to deliver career talks and demonstrate why a career in science is a good choice, so we are really excited about delivering events to a number of Midlands students during the week of May 23.

Dr Guinan, PhD, MD, was the founding dean of the School of Community Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is now professor emerita. She was the first woman to serve as the chief scientific advisor to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  She has roots in Co Offaly and is proud to be taking part in a series of public events in schools and other venues to promote science and technology education in the Midlands region, through her association with the Midlands Science Diaspora, a network that is being developed by Atlantic Corridor.

Atlantic Corridor has worked very closely with the national foundation for investment in scientific and engineering research, Science Foundation Ireland over the past eight years to promote participation in science at all levels. This week long visit from an international science speaker also strongly supports Science Foundation Ireland’s new campaign #ScienceRising,that aims to create the connection for industry and individuals with science and innovation in Ireland.

This is achieved through a wide-ranging programme, engaging academic and industrial scientists, educational establishments, industry and the Irish public through partnership, information, events, competitions and awards.

Ms Gorman said “this ability to engage globally with scientists who have a connection to Ireland could represent significant potential for the work we are already trying to do in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland along with academic and corporate partners in the Midlands region. We are delighted to be partnering with Athlone Institute of Technology in organising Dr Guinan’s visit and a special event will be held at the Institute to recognise her vast achievements in science and indeed her Midlands roots.”

In addition to school visits and meetings with like-minded public health and science professionals, a special public interview will be held in the Tullamore Court Hotel at 12pm on Tuesday, May 24 when Dr Guinan will talk about her fascinating career in science, her brand new book, ‘Adventures of a Female Medical Detective’ and this will be followed by a discussion and debate. If you wish to attend this public interview, please contact Atlantic Corridor on 057 93 23902 as places are limited.