Oral history interview with Rita R. Colwell, 2009 Jan. 13

Dr. Rita R. Colwell, Distinguished Professor at University of Maryland, College Park and John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, was born in Beverly, Massachusetts and received a bachelors of science (1956) from Purdue and a masters of science in genetics from Purdue (1958). Her Ph.D. in oceanography is from the University of Washington. She talks about campus life at Purdue during her student years and her work in Microbiology and Biotechnology University of Maryland, College Park. Colwell talks about her research in studying cholera, combining high tech instruments with molecular biology to make inroads in detecting outbreaks. She also served as Vice President of Academic Affairs. Globally she has focused on addressing emerging infectious diseases and water issues, including safe drinking water for both developed and the developing world. Dr. Colwell served as the first female and the 11th Director of the National Science Foundation (1998-2004). In her capacity as director, Colwell served as co-chair of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council. Dr. Colwell has been awarded 49 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education including Purdue in 1993 and is the recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, bestowed by the Emperor of Japan. In July 2007, she was one of seven recipients of the 2006 National Medal of Science, the nations highest honor for science. Among her affiliation with professional associations are American Institute of Biological Sciences, serving a term as President; American Association for the Advancement of Science, served a term as President; and was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology