Rita R. Colwell

Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization

Over the past decade, the complexity of climate change has been the subject of extensive discussion. However, microbial factors associated with climate change, notably infectious diseases, are rarely, if ever, included in climate models.

Colwell argues that understanding and modeling the role of climate change in the spread of infectious diseases is paramount to a holistic understanding of the consequences of global climate change and, certainly, for policies addressing societal needs related to global climate change.