Coming and Previous Lectures
The Birth and Life of MSU's Crown Jewel of the Chicken World
Thursday April 17, 2025, 1:30 pm, MSUFCU Mt. Hope Branch
Everyone has driven by a fenced-in property at the corner of Mt Hope and Harrison roads, but few know what has gone on there. This talk will reveal highlights of the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory’s 85-year history, its contributions to the nearly complete control of two devastating virus-induced cancers of chickens, and how it became one of the preeminent poultry disease research laboratories in the world. In addition, there will be a brief explanation of the lab’s beginning and end, and the close but poorly understood relationship between the Federal Laboratory and Michigan State University.
Richard Witter, PhD, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, served as a research leader and director of the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, at East Lansing, Michigan. His work, while focused on diseases of poultry, influenced the study of the relationship of viruses to cancer, recombinant DNA vaccines, and genome mapping.
Socialize at 1:30 pm; the lecture starts at 2:00 pm.
Faculty Emeriti Association Lectures are open to all those interested.
The Birth and Life of MSU's Crown Jewel of the Chicken World
Thursday April 17, 2025, 1:30 pm, MSUFCU Mt. Hope Branch
Everyone has driven by a fenced-in property at the corner of Mt Hope and Harrison roads, but few know what has gone on there. This talk will reveal highlights of the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory’s 85-year history, its contributions to the nearly complete control of two devastating virus-induced cancers of chickens, and how it became one of the preeminent poultry disease research laboratories in the world. In addition, there will be a brief explanation of the lab’s beginning and end, and the close but poorly understood relationship between the Federal Laboratory and Michigan State University.
Richard Witter, PhD, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, served as a research leader and director of the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, at East Lansing, Michigan. His work, while focused on diseases of poultry, influenced the study of the relationship of viruses to cancer, recombinant DNA vaccines, and genome mapping.
Faculty Emeriti Association Lectures are open to all those interested.
Videos of Past Lectures
Select the name of a video below for a description of the lecture and a link to the video.
January 15, 2025 Dean of Libraries Neil Romanosky -- Research Libraries in the Digital Age
April 18, 2024 David Firestein Implications of the January 2024 Taiwan election
April 26 2023 David Firestein “‘Nothing to See Here, Folks’: The U.S.-China Relationship in 2023.”
March 21 2023 William Chopik A Tail of Influence: How Humans and Pets Shape Each Other's Happiness
October 27 2022 David Firestein Taiwan and the U.S.-China Relationship: Hard Realities and Inconvenient Truths
April 28 2022 William Chopik, Department of Psychology How an Optimistic Outlook Can Lead to a Happier and Healthier Life
January 27 2022 David Firestein Update on US-China Relations January 27, 2022
Firestein 2022 Postscript Question and Answer Session January 27, 2022 part 2
Roger Baldwin, Professor Emeritus, Department of Educational Administration: “Navigating a New Frontier: Renewing the Meaning of Academic Retirement” November 17, 2021
Professor Thomas Holt, Director of the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, on Computer Hacking and Malware September 24, 2021
MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD Michigan State University's Covid Experience April 29, 2021
David Firestein on U.S.-China Relations, 2021: Issues, Challenges and Prospects January 27, 2021
College of Veterinary Medicine Townhall with A. Oveta Fuller January 19, 2021 An event hosted by the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and joined by the FEA. This presentation gave an overview of topics related to vaccines.