GRANVILLE -- Denison University will host biological weapons expert Dr. Kenneth Alibek to discuss "Technological, Medical, Political and Economic Aspects of Bioterrorism and Biological Warfare." This Anderson Lecture Series presentation by the former Soviet Union biological weapon expert, is set for 8 p.m. on Thursday (March 27) in Swasey Chapel, and is free and open to the public.

Dr. Kenneth Alibek

Dr. Alibek, both a distinguished professor and executive director of the Center for Biodefense at George Mason University, served as First Deputy Chief of the civilian branch of the Soviet Union's offensive biological weapons program prior to his defection to the United States in 1992, and has more than 20 years of experience in the development, management and supervision of high containment pathogen laboratories. He has extensive knowledge of biotechnology, including bio processing, biological weapons threat analysis, antibacterial and antiviral drug development, treatment of diseases caused by biological weapons and mass casualty handling.

Dr. Alibek, credited with the development of the world's most powerful anthrax, served, after his defection, as a consultant to numerous United States government agencies in the areas of industrial technology, medical microbiology and biological weapons and defense and non-proliferation. Dr. Alibek also holds the positions of vice chairman and chief scientist at Advanced Biosystems, where he leads medical and scientific research programs dedicated to developing new forms of medical protection against biological weapons and other infectious diseases.

Dr. Alibek has published articles in a number of classified journals on the developments in the field of biological weapons and biodefense and is the author of the 1999 bookBiohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World. Alibek earned his medical degree in epidemiology and infectious diseases, a doctorate in medical microbiology and a doctor of science degree in industrial biotechnology.

The Anderson Lecture Series is part of a program for science education at Denison created by J. Reid and Polly Anderson in 1986. The endowment, which exceeds $1 million, also supports the Anderson Science Scholarships and the Anderson Summer Research awards. The late Reid Anderson, a 1938 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Denison, was founder and former chief executive of Verbatim Corporation. He served on Denison's Board of Trustees from 1983 to 1987. Denison Professor Emeritus Philip E. Stukus, biology, is coordinator of the Anderson Lecture Series.

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