DNA sequencing will also impact forensic science and help people know their risks for certain diseases, Fedoroff said. This could potentially impact a person's insurance or ability to obtain a job. Other lecture topics deal with the comparison of the human genome to other animals, societal and ethical issues of genomics and various research strategies. The Lectures on the Frontiers of Science was a grassroots effort started by faculty in the physics department, Kennedy said. In the past years, the lectures have gained popularity, with the same people coming again and again to hear the professors talk.
People really look forward to it.
It's kind of bleak out here this time of year. I'm very encouraged by the intellectual curiosity among the audience members. It's clear to me that people are hungry for knowledge.