Award-winning author Thomas Hager, author of "Alchemy of Air," will be visiting SNRE Nov. 19 to talk about balancing the dangers of widespread pollution against the dangers of widespread famine. Join him to delve into a discussion about how we approach this problem in a way that provides enough food for the world, but limits damage from pollution.

Talk abstract: "Can We Feed the World Without Poisoning It?"

Hager will talk about balancing the dangers of widespread pollution against the dangers of widespread famine. Join him to delve into a discussion about how we approach this problem in a way that provides enough food for the world, but limits damage from pollution. 

When Hager finds something interesting, he writes about. With seven books under his belt, Hager's dramatic stories focus on the ways in which science and technology shape our world. After a long career in science freelancing and magazine editing, he and his wife Lauren Kessler wrote "Aging Well" together, then "Force of Nature: The Life of Linus Pauling," which was named one of the Library Journal's Best Sci-Tech Books of the Year in 1995. After several more Pauling-related projects and a stint as a book publisher, Hager wrote "The Demon Under the Microscope: From Battlefield Hospitals to Nazi Labs, One Doctor's Heroic Search for the World's First Miracle Drug," followed by "The Alchemy of Air: A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Discovery that Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler," which was a finalist for the National Academies Communications Award, Borders "Original Voices" selection, and one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2008.ӬӬ

The Eugene, Oregon native's research travels have taken him from the deserts of Peru and Chile, to Tokyo, Paris, London and Dhaka, Bangladesh. When he his home, Hager serves as a courtesy professor at the University of Oregon. After earning a master's degree in microbiology and immunology, then another in journalism, Hager started his professional career as a communications intern at the National Cancer Institute.

He worked as a freelance medical writer, a contributor to American Health, and West Coast news correspondent for the Journal of the American Medial Association, before moving into editing and publishing. Hager was the founding editor of the scientific trade publication, then edited the Oregon Quarterly, the oldest and largest-circulation magazine in the state, for 10 years. He worked as the director of communications and marketing at the University of Oregon and more than 100 of his articles on medicine and science have been published in periodicals ranging from Reader's Digest, Self, and the Wall Street Journal to Cardio, the Medical Tribune, and the Shanghai Daily. ӬӬHager has appeared on C-Span's "BookTV" twice and has been interviewed on NPR shows including "Weekend Edition," Science Friday," "The Diane Rehm Show," and "Talk of the Nation."

He enjoys public speaking and given talks before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and many other groups ranging from reading groups to event keynotes, university classes, medical associations, scientific gatherings, health organizations, charitable giving efforts, alumni event, and peace groups. Ӭ

Currently, Hager is most fascinated by food issues, world hunger and how we're going to grow enough to feed the added 2 billion or so people who will soon be joining us at the global dinner table.