JoAnn Burkholder, director of the Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology at North Carolina State University, will discuss her groundbreaking and controversial research on Pfiesteria at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19 in Whitley Auditorium. Her speech, which is free and open to the public, is part of the Voices of Discovery Science Speaker Series, sponsored by the departments of Science and Mathematics. The series invites noted scholars in science and mathematics to Elon to share their knowledge and experience with students.
Burkholder is co-discoverer of Pfiesteria, a toxic marine alga which has been linked to major fish kills in estuaries in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland since 1991. Pfiesteria adversely affects humans as well, producing toxins that can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin which result in dizziness, headaches, skin lesions and short-term memory loss.
In 2002, dissenting scientists challenged Burkholder’s findings, contending Pfiesteria is not toxic and dangerous to marine life and humans. Burkholder and her colleagues responded with new research that showed flaws in the dissenting scientists’ research methods and reconfirmed the toxicity of Pfiesteria.
In addition to her teaching and research, Burkholder is a member of several policy-making organizations, including the North Carolina Coastal Futures Committee and the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and a doctorate from Michigan State University.
-30-