Fever Rising – How Climate Change Drives Deadly Diseases

There are countless undiscovered or little-studied microorganisms in nature. One is a parasite virus that relies on other viruses to spread. It has been found in vampire bat saliva in the Amazon jungle, the same ones that frequently bite people. Another is closer to home, in Western Europe, infecting wild shrews. Researchers found that it infects thousands of people and suspect it is making some go to hospital for treatment, yet there is no way to make a diagnosis. I am making the tools to enable research into this infection.

Learn how to spot the signs, protect yourself and your loved ones, and understand the science behind this growing public health challenge. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a concerned parent, or just curious about what’s crawling beneath the surface, this session will leave you feeling better prepared for the bite of a changing world.

What if your peaceful retirement dream of raising sheep in the quiet highlands turned into an overnight nightmare? Across the UK, farmers are facing exactly that as drug-resistant parasitic worms fiercely undermine their flock health and farm profitability.
In this talk, a PhD researcher from the University of Glasgow explores the genetic battle happening beneath the surface. By sequencing worm DNA, his research aims to identify the genes responsible for resistance to commonly used treatments, and uncover how farming practices, climate change, and outdated diagnostics are accelerating the problem.
With UK farmers spending over £42 million a year battling these worms, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Learn how this cutting-edge research could lead to smarter surveillance, better treatment strategies, and maybe even preserve your Sunday roast – because for some of us, going vegan just isn’t on the table.