Alison Van Eenennaam
Animal geneticist Alison Van Eenennaam will address the often-controversial issue of genetic engineering’s role in livestock production systems on the Auburn University campus Tuesday, Feb. 14, when she presents “Animal biotechnology: What is it, what could it be, and will it be allowed?” as the Spring 2017 E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer.
The free lecture is set for 4 p.m. in 113-A Lowder Hall and is open to the public.
Van Eenennaam is a Cooperative Extension specialist in the field of animal genomics and biotechnology and a researcher in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Her current research projects include the development of genomic and genome-editing approaches to select for cattle that are less susceptible to disease and developing applied uses of DNA-based information on commercial beef cattle operations.
In addition to having given 400-plus research presentations to scientific audiences worldwide, Van Eenennaam uses various media to inform the general public about science and technology and is a frequent media contact on hot-button topics such as cloning. In recognition of her outstanding outreach program, she was presented the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Borlaug Communication Award in 2014.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from the University of Melbourne in Australia and a master’s in animal science and doctorate in genetics, both from UC Davis.
The lecture is sponsored by the E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer Series in the College of Agriculture and Auburn University’s Littleton-Franklin Lectures. For more information, contact Elizabeth Scarborough at mew0071@auburn.edu or visit agriculture.auburn.edu/yorklecture.