Contamination of wildlife to be topic of lecture at Gettysburg College

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GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Endocrine disruptors - synthetic chemicals that mimic or block hormones, disrupting the body's normal functions - will be the topic of a lecture by Dr. Michael Smolen of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), at Gettysburg College on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Mara Auditorium, Masters Hall.

Sponsored by the college's global studies program, Smolen's lecture, "Endocrine Disruptors: Hidden Threats to Wildlife," will explore the effects unknown contaminants have on wildlife and their endocrine systems, including their reproductive capabilities. This lecture is part of Gettysburg College's 20th Annual Area Studies Symposium, "Nature, War and Peace." The lecture is open to the public at no charge.

Smolen is a senior scientist in the wildlife and contaminants program for the WWF, the largest privately supported international conservation organization in the world. WWF has more than a million members in the United States and has invested in over 13,100 projects in 157 countries since 1961. Smolen received a master's in museum sciences from Texas Tech University and a doctorate in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University. He has worked for the National Geographic Society and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With approximately 2,500 students, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park. The college was founded in 1832.

Issued 3/17/04

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