RML To Host Indigenous People’s Research Gathering, Aug. 8

Two Native American scientists will be among the featured speakers at the second Rivers of Knowledge research gathering on Thursday, Aug. 8 at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Mont. RML’s STEAM Collaborations with Indigenous Peoples committee, which reaches out to Native Peoples and educators to foster research and educational opportunities in sciences and related fields, is coordinating the event.

The gathering will be hybrid and talks focus on zoonotic research, career development, training opportunities and hands-on educational projects.

Invited speakers are Dr. Crystal Lee, Diné (Navajo), of the University of New Mexico, who will present “From REZ to Research;” Dr. Moses Leavens, (Chippewa Cree), of the McLaughlin Research Institute, will talk about “Resources and Strategies for Native Success in STEM;” and Dr. Crystal Richards of NIGMS will discuss tribal college funding opportunities.

RML presenters include Dr. Cathryn Haigh, who will discuss chronic wasting disease research; Dr. Neeltje van Doremalen, who will share lessons from preclinical Covid-19 vaccine research; and Dr. Adam Nock, who will talk about ticks and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Register online at https://go.nih.gov/ZhEXV8T. For more information, email RMLSCIP@mail.nih.gov. Last year’s inaugural event drew more than 60 people, including members from four tribal nations and five colleges and universities.