Georgia Southern University held the Community Opening & Reception for Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World Exhibit on November 13 at the Zach S. Henderson Library.
The Smithsonian Institution exhibit is a collaboration between the Institute for Health Logistics and Analytics led by Dr. Jessica Schwind, the Georgia Southern University Museum, led by Dr. Brent Tharp, and the University Libraries.
Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World, highlights how pathogens can spread to people from wildlife and livestock, why some outbreaks become epidemics and how human, animal, and environmental health are connected as One Health.
The Institute for Health Logistics & Analytics (IHLA) has brought this Smithsonian exhibit to Georgia Southern in support of its One Health mission.
Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World was a 4,250-square-foot temporary exhibition created by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington, D.C. The three-year exhibition, which marked the 100th anniversary of the devastating 1918 influenza pandemic, was open to the public from May 2018 until May 2021.
The exhibition on display at Georgia Southern University offers a condensed version of the Outbreak Exhibition and invites you to join epidemiologists, veterinarians, public health workers, and citizens as they rush to identify and respond to infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola virus, influenza, Zika virus, and others.
In addition to the Smithsonian materials, IHLA has added custom sections:
- Authentic Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) containment suit, the type worn by people working in a laboratory or responding to outbreaks of novel or deathly viruses.
- 3D examples of infectious vectors (like viruses and bacteria)
- Exhibits showcasing the university response to the COVID-19 outbreak
A welcome and opening remarks were led by Dr. Lisa Carmichael, Dean of Georgia Southern University Libraries, and Dr. Kyle Marrero, President of Georgia Southern University.
In the opening remarks from Dr. Marrero, he stated, “An exhibit like the Smithsonian Institution’s Outbreak reminds us that science, art, history, and health are all deeply interconnected. By studying the history of epidemics and pandemics, we not only see how they shape societies, but also how they fueled scientific breakthroughs, influence policy, and affected daily lives across generations."
Keynote speakers were Dr. Chris Rustin, Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Health, and Dr. Amanda Feldpausch, DVM, MPH, Deputy State Epidemiologist, One Health Epidemiology Director.
Dr. Chris Rustin introduced Dr. Feldpausch, who serves as the One Health Epidemiology Director as well as the Deputy State Epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Health, where she oversees the respiratory disease epidemiology unit, the national wasteboard surveillance system team, and other One Health activities.
According to the IHLA website, "One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. We believe policies and practices that promote optimal health and well-being should be rooted in daily life. Our Institute’s culture is guided by a strong set of principles by which we live and is evidenced through our everyday interactions with the community and partner organizations."
Dr. Feldpausch shared, “One Health itself is not new. We have always been working together. It's just that putting a name on it, getting new focus, having things like this exhibit, putting it in the forefront of people's minds and letting people know how important it is, brings new emphasis, and it benefits us all.”
Closing remarks were made by Dr. Jessica Schwind, Director and Associate Professor of the Institute for Health Logistics & Analytics of Georgia Southern University.
Dr. Schwind acknowledged the expansive team that made the exhibit possible including Dr. Feldpausch, Dr. Ruston, Dean Carmicheal, the University Libraries Team, Dr. Tharp and the University Museum Team, as well as the IHLA team for their “invaluable contributions for coordinating and curating this event.” Many other contributors were thanked as well--the full IHLA Team members information can be found here.
The display is located on the second floor of Henderson Library, 1400 Southern Drive, Building 208, on Georgia Southern University's Statesboro campus from November 2024 to March 2025.
The exhibition is free and open to the public.