‘The Poisoner’s Handbook’ Author to Speak at UF

Deborah Blum, author of the New York Times paperback best seller “The Poisoner’s Handbook,” will discuss science writing at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, April 6, in The University of Findlay’s Alumni Memorial Union.
Blum is the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Ohio Academy of Science, which will be held at the University.  Her presentation is free and open to the public.
A Pulitzer Prize winner and professor of science journalism at the University of Wisconsin, Blum worked as a newspaper science writer for 20 years, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for her writing about primate research. “The Poisoner’s Handbook,” published in 2010, is a Jazz Age tale of chemistry and detection, poison and murder. It paints a realistic picture of early 20^th century New York where poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime.
Other books by Blum include “The Monkey Wars” (1994), “Sex on the Brain” (1997) and “Love at Goon Park” (2002).  She has also authored “Angel Killer,” a #1 Amazon Kindle Best Seller.  While at UF, she will talk with students in classes about the integration of science and literature in keeping with the annual meeting theme of “An Interdisciplinary Approach to Science.”
The University of Findlay extended an invitation to The Ohio Academy of Science in February 2012 to host the Academy’s 2013 annual meeting.  A steering committee, headed by Brian Whitaker, Ph.D., assistant professor of animal science, has been in charge of planning for the event that will include poster presentations, workshops and a board of trustees meeting.
“Our new science addition to the Davis Street Building will serve as the site for major activities during the meeting,” said Whitaker.  “The University of Findlay will also have more students presenting posters than any other college or university at the meeting.”
With offices located in Columbus, The Ohio Academy of Science is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to foster curiosity, discovery and innovation for the benefit of society.” The organization publishes “The Ohio Journal of Science” and   has affiliations with more than 280 scientific fields of interest.
No reservations are needed for Blum’s presentation. For more information on attending the annual meeting, contact Brian Whitaker, whitaker@findlay.edu or 419-434-5394.