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How We Create Pandemics, From Our Bodies to Our Beliefs

with Smithsonian Curator Sabrina Sholts

2025-02-04 14:00:00 2025-02-04 15:00:00 America/New_York How We Create Pandemics, From Our Bodies to Our Beliefs An enlightening presentation with Smithsonian curator Sabrina Sholts as she talks about how the very fact of being human increases our pandemic risks—and gives us the power to save ourselves.  Virtual -

Tuesday, February 04
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Add to Calendar 2025-02-04 14:00:00 2025-02-04 15:00:00 America/New_York How We Create Pandemics, From Our Bodies to Our Beliefs An enlightening presentation with Smithsonian curator Sabrina Sholts as she talks about how the very fact of being human increases our pandemic risks—and gives us the power to save ourselves.  Virtual -

An enlightening presentation with Smithsonian curator Sabrina Sholts as she talks about how the very fact of being human increases our pandemic risks—and gives us the power to save ourselves. 

Join us for this enlightening presentation with Smithsonian curator Sabrina Sholts as she talks about how the very fact of being human increases our pandemic risks—and gives us the power to save ourselves. 

The COVID-19 pandemic won't be our last—because what makes us vulnerable to pandemics also makes us human. That is the uncomfortable but all-too-timely message of The Human Disease: How We Create Pandemics, From Our Bodies to Our Beliefs, which travels through history and around the globe to examine how and why pandemics are an inescapable threat of our own making. Drawing on dozens of disciplines—from medicine, epidemiology, and microbiology to anthropology, sociology, ecology, and neuroscience—as well as a unique expertise in public education about emerging infectious diseases, biological anthropologist Sabrina Sholts identifies the human traits and tendencies that double as pandemic liabilities, from the anatomy that defines us to the misperceptions that divide us.

Weaving together a wealth of personal experiences, scientific findings, and historical stories, Sholts brings dramatic and much-needed clarity to one of the most profound challenges we face as a species. Though the COVID-19 pandemic looms large in Sholts's account, it is, in fact, just one of the many infectious disease events explored in The Human Disease. With its expansive, evolutionary perspective, the book explains how humanity will continue to face new pandemics because humans cause them, by the ways that we are and the things that we do. By recognizing our risks, Sholts suggests, we can take actions to reduce them. When the next pandemic happens, and how bad it becomes, are largely within our highly capable human hands—and will be determined by what we do with our extraordinary human brains. A presentation you don’t want to miss, register now!

About the Author:

Sabrina Sholts is a biological anthropologist and Curator of Biological Anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Her research explores intersections of human, animal, and environmental health in the past and present. She received her PhD in Anthropology at UC Santa Barbara and was a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley in Integrative Biology and at Stockholm University in Biophysics and Biochemistry. Sholts has published widely in academic journals including American Journal of Biological Anthropology, Environmental Health Perspectives, JAMA, PNAS, Scientific Reports, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and Nature Ecology & Evolution, and written for popular audiences in Scientific American and Smithsonian Magazine. She was named as a World Economic Forum Young Scientist in 2019. In addition, she was Lead Curator of the exhibition Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World at the NMNH (2018-2022) and a scientific advisor for the related exhibition Épidémies: Prendre soin du vivant at the musée des Confluences in Lyon, France (2024-2025).

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Virtual | Lecture | Health and Wellness | Author event |

Wilbraham Public Library

Phone: 413-596-6141

Hours

Today's hours

We're open 9:00AM to 8:00PM

Mon, Feb 10 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Feb 11 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Feb 12 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Feb 13 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Fri, Feb 14 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Feb 15 9:00AM to 2:00PM
Sun, Feb 16 Closed

About the branch

The Wilbraham Public Library provides resources and opportunities for community learning, recreation, and making connections.

Upcoming Events

Tue, Feb 11, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.
Registration is now closed

Tue, Feb 11, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The monthly meeting of the Wilbraham Friends of the Library.

Tue, Feb 11, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual
Bestselling author Waubgeshig Rice will chat about his newest book, Moon of the Turning Leaves, the hotly anticipated sequel to the bestselling novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow.
Register

Wed, Feb 12, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Great Decisions, America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, meets weekly on Wednesdays through March 26. Each week will feature a new topic for discussion.

Wed, Feb 12, 6:30pm - 7:15pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Make kindness the norm!

Thu, Feb 13, 10:00am - 10:45am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Join us for a fun collection of stories, songs, and fingerplays geared for children ages 3-6.

Fri, Feb 14, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Plan | Draw | Build. Story included to spark creativity!
This event is full

Tue, Feb 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Virtual
Journalist and author Lee Hawkins discusses his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience in his riveting memoir, I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free.
Register

Tue, Feb 18, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Children's Department
The monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Tue, Feb 18, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Teens will learn about copper and craft their very own bookmark to take home.

Wed, Feb 19, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Great Decisions, America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, meets weekly on Wednesdays through March 26. Each week will feature a new topic for discussion.

Wed, Feb 19, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
A monthly book discussion facilitated by Assistant Director Mary Bell. Newcomers are always welcome!

Thu, Feb 20, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Winter Fun with the Snow Queen!

Thu, Feb 20, 3:15pm - 4:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Kids ages 3 & up can drop off their stuffed animals to sleepover in the library! The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) and teens facilitate this annual event!

Fri, Feb 21, 10:00am - 11:00am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Kids ages 3 & up can drop off their stuffed animals to sleepover in the library! The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) and teens facilitate this annual event!

Sat, Feb 22, 10:00am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Learn how to create paper hyacinths flowers with basic crafting materials. Adults ages 18+.

Rescheduled
Sat, Feb 22, 11:00am - 12:30pm
New date Saturday, February 22, 10:00am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library
Learn how to create paper hyacinths flowers with basic crafting materials. Adults ages 18+.

Mon, Feb 24, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Monthly meeting on the fourth Monday of the month. Books are available to pick up at the Service Desk; new comers are always welcome.

Tue, Feb 25, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.

Tue, Feb 25, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Teens can join Ellie, from Art Lessons with Ellie, for a creative painting workshop!

Tue, Feb 25, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual
Nancy Reddy discuss her book, The Good Mother Myth: Unlearning Our Bad Ideas About How to Be a Good Mom, a thought-provoking debunking of the bad ideas that have defined what it means to be a mom.
Register

Wed, Feb 26, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Great Decisions, America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, meets weekly on Wednesdays through March 26. Each week will feature a new topic for discussion.

Wed, Feb 26, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Led by Jessica Magill. For questions, contact Jessica: jessicammagill@hotmail.com

Thu, Feb 27, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
February book selection - Investigators by John Patrick Green

Fri, Feb 28, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Plan | Draw | Build. Story included to spark creativity!
This event is full

Rescheduled
Mon, Mar 03, 3:30pm - 4:20pm
New date Monday, March 10, 3:30pm - 4:20pm
Wilbraham Public Library
Read aloud to your favorite four-legged friend, Cadence!

Tue, Mar 04, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.

Tue, Mar 04, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The daytime monthly book discussion group facilitated by Library Director Karen Ball. New members always welcome!

Wed, Mar 05, 10:00am - 10:45am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Join Renee Coro for musical play!
Registration opens Monday, February 17 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Mar 05, 11:00am - 11:40am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Join Renee for a music class for your preschooler!
Registration opens Monday, February 17 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Mar 05, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Great Decisions, America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, meets weekly on Wednesdays through March 26. Each week will feature a new topic for discussion.

Wed, Mar 05, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Learn how to use the library's resources - both online and in the local history section - to further your genealogy research!

Fri, Mar 07, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Multi-sensory and exploration

Cancelled
Fri, Mar 07, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Wilbraham Public Library
A fun, informal monthly book club where 6th & 7th graders share our love of reading! The book should be read before each meeting. New members always welcome!

Sat, Mar 08, 10:00am - 11:00am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Saturday Arts and Crafts
Registration opens Monday, February 17 2025 at 9:00am

Mon, Mar 10, 3:30pm - 4:20pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Read aloud to your favorite four-legged friend, Cadence!

Mon, Mar 10, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Learn how to create a thriving container garden. From selecting the perfect containers to choosing the right plants and designing a layout that showcases your style, this class will cover it all.
Registration opens Monday, February 17 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Mar 11, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.

Tue, Mar 11, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library
The monthly meeting of the Wilbraham Friends of the Library.

Tue, Mar 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Teens put their taste buds to the test!

Wed, Mar 12, 10:00am - 10:45am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Join Renee Coro for musical play!
Registration opens Monday, February 17 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Mar 12, 11:00am - 11:45am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Join Renee for a music class for your preschooler!
Registration opens Monday, February 17 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Mar 12, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Virtual
Are you ready for a revolutionary guide to getting unstuck and making the changes that matter? Bestselling author Dan Heath will chat about his newest book, Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working. 
Register

Wed, Mar 12, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Great Decisions, America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, meets weekly on Wednesdays through March 26. Each week will feature a new topic for discussion.

Thu, Mar 13, 10:00am - 11:00am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Join us for a fun collection of stories, songs, and fingerplays geared for children ages 3-6.