Lecture: Information is key to fighting bio-terror
Leah George-baskin
The Daily Illini
The William M. Staerkel Planetarium offers more than shows with pretty lights.
On Friday, Parkland College's planetarium held a discussion on the wider implications of bio-terrorism, which is part of its ongoing World of Science Lectures. The lecture was led by Abigail Salyers, a past American Society for Microbiology president and University professor of microbiology.
Salyers has had much experience with bio-terrorism, considering that her presidency began at the time of the anthrax scares.
"I was reluctant to give this lecture because I am sick of talking about terrorism," Salyers said. "But it is important that people know the things that have happened since the anthrax attacks that haven't been covered in the media, like what is going on with the smallpox vaccine or anthrax vaccine."
In her lecture, Salyers discussed the different assumptions the public has about bio-terrorism and ways in which to prevent such misconceptions in the future.
For example, Salyers said there was a need for better communication with the public. Most terror occurs because of a lack of useful information, and Salyers said she feels the threat of bio-terrorism "should not affect our lives so drastically."
Salyers also discussed the emergence of increased censorship on the scientific community.
The White House urges scientific societies to censor publications, suggesting these societies use a new category titled "unclassified but sensitive." By doing this, they hope to prevent information falling into the wrong hands. There have been scientific papers published with portions missing and materials have been removed from government Web sites, she said.
Salyers said she believes "information is better than no information," and these restrictions might be overly stringent and limit the quality and increase costs of doing research.
Salyers said a lack of information causes most of the panic in public.
"Ninety-nine percent of terror in the anthrax attacks was public perception," Salyers said.
In order to combat this, Salyers said she believes the government needs to reassess the balance between its legislations and regulations because it has overreacted. There also needs to be an increase in public skepticism and public involvement.
"I'm not saying you shouldn't worry, but just be a little skeptical," Salyers said. "Bio-terrorism is not nearly as much of a concern as post-surgical infections, AIDS or (tuberculosis). We need to get our priorities straight."
After the lecture, the audience participated in a question-and-answer session with Salyers. Discussion particpants walked away with mixed feelings.
Scott Radenbaugh, freshman in political science at Parkland college, said he agreed with Salyers' points.
"A lot of our politicians like to cause more fear than necessary in order to publicize one or two cases and then pretend like they are winning a war," Radenbaugh said.
David Leake, coordinator for the Staerkel Planetarium, believes Salyers' lecture was important because of current misconceptions in the world.
"Ever since the anthrax attacks (Salyers) was thrust into the public eye," Leake said. "She was part of (a) national group that was made to figure this stuff out, and you wouldn't figure a micro-biologist as a national figure."
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