Cancer and diet topics of presidential lecture

by Annette Hacker
Diane Birt, professor and chair of the department of food science and human nutrition and director of the Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements, will present the spring 2004 Presidential University Lecture.

Birt's lecture, "Is Cancer Preventable?," will begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the Memorial Union Sun Room. A reception and student poster display will be held at 7 p.m. in the Campanile Room. The events are free and open to the public.

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for one in every four deaths and claiming the lives of more than half a million Americans annually. Birt's talk will explore the role of diet, an aspect of cancer prevention in which knowledge is rapidly expanding. She will discuss how dietary recommendations change over the years, and what people need to know to be more effective in preventing cancer.

The Presidential University Lecture Series was created in 2003 to highlight faculty excellence in learning, discovery and engagement. Members of the faculty present lectures from their areas of expertise on topics of public interest. A $1,000 award accompanies the distinction.

Birt was selected by President Gregory Geoffroy, following a nominating process. During her career, Birt has been awarded major federal grants for diet and cancer prevention research. She formerly directed the Plant Sciences Institute's Center for Designing Foods.