VIDEO – Nov. 9 Evenings at Whitney: The Ever-Evolving Menace of Mosquitoes: Emerging Pathogens and New Technological Control Strategies

VIDEO – Nov. 9 Evenings at Whitney: The Ever-Evolving Menace of Mosquitoes: Emerging Pathogens and New Technological Control Strategies

Published: Monday, November 6, 2017

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Nov. 9, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Ever-Evolving Menace of Mosquitoes: Emerging Pathogens and New Technological Control Strategies.” Paul Linser, professor of anatomy and cell biology, neuroscience, microbiology and cell science, entomology, and biology at Whitney Laboratory, talked about the current threat mosquitoes pose in Florida. He also shared about how mosquito control technology and techniques are evolving. This free lecture was presented at Lohman Auditorium located at 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., on the Whitney Laboratory campus.

Throughout history, mosquitoes have negatively impacted human health by the diseases they transmit, and the same is true today. Linser talked about the mosquito-related diseases that are currently of concern in Florida, including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. He shared the most up-to-date status and statistics of these diseases and what to expect in the future. Linser also talked about ways in development to control mosquito populations, including both high-tech and low-tech methodologies.

Linser earned a doctorate in developmental biology and bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati. He has been a faculty member at Whitney Laboratory for the past 35 years. During that time, his research has evolved. Currently, his lab’s research focuses on mosquito control technologies, hearing loss related to aging in mammals and the evolution of functional compartmentalization in ctenophores. Linser is a member of the Florida Coordinating Council for Mosquito Control. Most recently, he was the editor-in-chief for a special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health titled Mosquito Control Innovations into the 21st Century.

Watch the Lecture