We hope you can join us for the College of Science 2021 Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Michael Waterman (’60, ’65). Known as the “Father of Computational Biology,” Waterman’s work is focused on applying mathematics, statistics and computer science techniques to problems in molecular biology. His early work on algorithms was the breakthrough needed to decode the human genome, which opened up new ways to treat diseases and improve human health. It also marked the turning point when mathematics and the life sciences become integrated. His lecture will discuss Waterman’s deep ties to Oregon and OSU and then explore some of the connections between mathematics and the biological sciences.

Waterman is currently an emeritus university professor at the University of Southern California and distinguished research professor at the University of Virginia. A Guggenheim Fellow and the founding editor of the Journal of Computational Biology, he is also a member of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.