Northwestern Events Calendar

May
15
2025

Wayfinding Through the Human Genome - The 4th Annual Carlos Montezuma Native Health Lecture - Keolu Fox

recurring see all events in this series

When: Thursday, May 15, 2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM CT

Where: Robert H Lurie Medical Research Center, 1st floor/Searle Room, 303 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611 map it

Audience: Faculty/Staff - Student - Public - Post Docs/Docs - Graduate Students

Cost: Free. Registration is required only for Zoom attendance.

Contact: Myria Knox   (312) 503-7962

Group: Medical Humanities & Bioethics Lunchtime Montgomery Lectures

Category: Academic, Lectures & Meetings

Description:

The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities and Bioethics Program

Presents in Co-Sponsorship With

Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR)

A Special Montgomery Lecture:

The 4th Annual Carlos Montezuma Native Health Lecture
This lecture is named in honor of Carlos Montezuma, the first Native American graduate of Northwestern University’s medical school.


Speaker:

Keolu Fox, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of California, San Diego

Wayfinding Through the Human Genome

Keolu’s research uses genetic data to rewrite the narratives of Indigenous people, emphasizing that the human genome, much like the vast Pacific Ocean, contains clues about our history, health, and future. By studying the genomes of Polynesian descendants of ancient navigators, his work not only highlights the complex migration patterns that brought them to distant islands like Hawaii and Tahiti but also offers insights into modern health challenges faced by these communities. In this lecture, Keolu will discuss how genomics can serve as a tool for land reclamation, public health improvements, and cultural preservation. He emphasizes the need for ethical, community-driven research models that prioritize benefit-sharing and cultural sustainability over extractive scientific practices. By incorporating Indigenous values and decision-making, his approach seeks to return agency to the communities that have historically been marginalized in genomic studies. Keolu’s vision extends beyond academia, with aspirations to develop mobile genomic technologies that could bring research directly to remote communities, revolutionizing conservation genetics and healthcare delivery. This lecture will provide a fascinating look at how the past informs the future, offering a new path forward in genomics that aligns with the global push toward inclusivity, equity, and sustainability in science.

This lecture is open to the public and will be held in the Searle Seminar Room in the Lurie Research Building (303 E Superior), Chicago Campus. For those outside the Chicago area and anyone who would prefer to attend remotely, a Zoom option is also available.

**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE ONLY**
REGISTER HERE

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