Becky Smith
@rlsdvm.bsky.social
Epidemiologist at UIUC, working in One Health
Infrastructure is important. Relationships are infrastructure.
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Infrastructure is important. Relationships are infrastructure.
One Health is not just comparative medicine, public health, or epidemiology. It has to be transdisciplinary
One Health only works when technical, behavioral, and institutional solutions come together
And remember the basics!
One Health only works when technical, behavioral, and institutional solutions come together
And remember the basics!
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
One Health is not just comparative medicine, public health, or epidemiology. It has to be transdisciplinary
One Health only works when technical, behavioral, and institutional solutions come together
And remember the basics!
One Health only works when technical, behavioral, and institutional solutions come together
And remember the basics!
Research cannot just be therapy for researchers. It must be placed in societal context
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Research cannot just be therapy for researchers. It must be placed in societal context
Stuart Reid: we see what we are trained to see
There is no single approach that will satisfy every stakeholder
Avoid the tragedy of the Commons, and the anticommons (so many stakeholders that nothing gets done)
There is no single approach that will satisfy every stakeholder
Avoid the tragedy of the Commons, and the anticommons (so many stakeholders that nothing gets done)
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Stuart Reid: we see what we are trained to see
There is no single approach that will satisfy every stakeholder
Avoid the tragedy of the Commons, and the anticommons (so many stakeholders that nothing gets done)
There is no single approach that will satisfy every stakeholder
Avoid the tragedy of the Commons, and the anticommons (so many stakeholders that nothing gets done)
We're pushing against the academic culture barrier: we need to, as institutions, value stakeholder engagement, communication, and coproduction of knowledge
Communication is not the same as dissemination!
Communication is not the same as dissemination!
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
We're pushing against the academic culture barrier: we need to, as institutions, value stakeholder engagement, communication, and coproduction of knowledge
Communication is not the same as dissemination!
Communication is not the same as dissemination!
We're expected to mix curiosity with practical response. That might mean providing research to support policy, but also interrogating assumptions underlying current policy
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
We're expected to mix curiosity with practical response. That might mean providing research to support policy, but also interrogating assumptions underlying current policy
Continuing with Natalia Cenicchiaro
How do we make sure our science actually matters?
How do we justify our existence as researchers?
How do we make sure our science actually matters?
How do we justify our existence as researchers?
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Continuing with Natalia Cenicchiaro
How do we make sure our science actually matters?
How do we justify our existence as researchers?
How do we make sure our science actually matters?
How do we justify our existence as researchers?
Part of the scientific social contract is open data and inclusivity - not just the data, but also the science (papers and infographic versions of the papers)
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Part of the scientific social contract is open data and inclusivity - not just the data, but also the science (papers and infographic versions of the papers)
We model health as absence of disease, but is that fair? Shouldn't health be defined as ability to live fully?
Aka, how dog is your dog?
Aka, how dog is your dog?
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
We model health as absence of disease, but is that fair? Shouldn't health be defined as ability to live fully?
Aka, how dog is your dog?
Aka, how dog is your dog?
"Breeders just farm dogs. They produce what will sell. If you want change, you need to change the public"
But regulation has a role - they used public support to pass legislation
But regulation has a role - they used public support to pass legislation
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
"Breeders just farm dogs. They produce what will sell. If you want change, you need to change the public"
But regulation has a role - they used public support to pass legislation
But regulation has a role - they used public support to pass legislation
Dan O'Neill on science and the social license to operate for dogs with extreme conformation with VetCompass
The concept of dog breeds is a product of wealth - we can afford to have dogs without jobs
The concept of dog breeds is a product of wealth - we can afford to have dogs without jobs
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Dan O'Neill on science and the social license to operate for dogs with extreme conformation with VetCompass
The concept of dog breeds is a product of wealth - we can afford to have dogs without jobs
The concept of dog breeds is a product of wealth - we can afford to have dogs without jobs
Systemic intervention is defined by boundaries. Who and what is included?
Antimicrobial susceptibility should be considered a common pool resource
Garrett Hardin: the problem has no technical solution, it requires an extension of morality
Antimicrobial susceptibility should be considered a common pool resource
Garrett Hardin: the problem has no technical solution, it requires an extension of morality
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Systemic intervention is defined by boundaries. Who and what is included?
Antimicrobial susceptibility should be considered a common pool resource
Garrett Hardin: the problem has no technical solution, it requires an extension of morality
Antimicrobial susceptibility should be considered a common pool resource
Garrett Hardin: the problem has no technical solution, it requires an extension of morality
Veterinarian's oath is to protect animal health and promote public health, but what if they are in conflict? AMR is an example - any abx use can diminish the effectiveness of any abx anywhere in the future. Bacteria don't distinguish righteous use from misuse
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Veterinarian's oath is to protect animal health and promote public health, but what if they are in conflict? AMR is an example - any abx use can diminish the effectiveness of any abx anywhere in the future. Bacteria don't distinguish righteous use from misuse
Policy is not politics
Science can provide data, but it can only be translated into policy in the context of societal norms
We can deal with that through scientific ethics - beneficence, respect, justice
Science can provide data, but it can only be translated into policy in the context of societal norms
We can deal with that through scientific ethics - beneficence, respect, justice
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Policy is not politics
Science can provide data, but it can only be translated into policy in the context of societal norms
We can deal with that through scientific ethics - beneficence, respect, justice
Science can provide data, but it can only be translated into policy in the context of societal norms
We can deal with that through scientific ethics - beneficence, respect, justice
First talk is from Morgan Scott on policy and practice in reverse
Could health policies and practices become detached from science?
Could the data be wrong? Or, can the data speak for themselves, or do they require interpretation?
Could health policies and practices become detached from science?
Could the data be wrong? Or, can the data speak for themselves, or do they require interpretation?
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
First talk is from Morgan Scott on policy and practice in reverse
Could health policies and practices become detached from science?
Could the data be wrong? Or, can the data speak for themselves, or do they require interpretation?
Could health policies and practices become detached from science?
Could the data be wrong? Or, can the data speak for themselves, or do they require interpretation?
Stuart Reid introduces his topic, science's social contract
Where does our research sit on the quadrant of curiosity- vs need-driven and proactive vs reactive?
Where does our research sit on the quadrant of curiosity- vs need-driven and proactive vs reactive?
January 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Stuart Reid introduces his topic, science's social contract
Where does our research sit on the quadrant of curiosity- vs need-driven and proactive vs reactive?
Where does our research sit on the quadrant of curiosity- vs need-driven and proactive vs reactive?
Mohammad Jahid is back, on influenza in wildfowl this time
If 124 genomes, 12 HPAI, including 2 novel reassortments. No critical mammalian adaptations
If 124 genomes, 12 HPAI, including 2 novel reassortments. No critical mammalian adaptations
January 19, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Mohammad Jahid is back, on influenza in wildfowl this time
If 124 genomes, 12 HPAI, including 2 novel reassortments. No critical mammalian adaptations
If 124 genomes, 12 HPAI, including 2 novel reassortments. No critical mammalian adaptations
Kali Ward on the resistome of WTD in NY
Right-skewed distribution of ARG counts. Most common were what you'd expect (ie, blaOXA in 17% of samples)
Right-skewed distribution of ARG counts. Most common were what you'd expect (ie, blaOXA in 17% of samples)
January 19, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Kali Ward on the resistome of WTD in NY
Right-skewed distribution of ARG counts. Most common were what you'd expect (ie, blaOXA in 17% of samples)
Right-skewed distribution of ARG counts. Most common were what you'd expect (ie, blaOXA in 17% of samples)
Mohammad Jahid on H5N1 in wild mammals
No active infection, but evidence of exposure in marsh habitats during fall migration
No active infection, but evidence of exposure in marsh habitats during fall migration
January 19, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Mohammad Jahid on H5N1 in wild mammals
No active infection, but evidence of exposure in marsh habitats during fall migration
No active infection, but evidence of exposure in marsh habitats during fall migration
Juan Mena Vasquez on PEDV dynamics in swine farms
Low prevalence, but persists once it starts, and it's probably introduced in transport
Low prevalence, but persists once it starts, and it's probably introduced in transport
January 19, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Juan Mena Vasquez on PEDV dynamics in swine farms
Low prevalence, but persists once it starts, and it's probably introduced in transport
Low prevalence, but persists once it starts, and it's probably introduced in transport
Stephen Edache on feeding patterns of mosquitoes on swine farms in the US
Lots of swine-fed mosquitoes in and around swine farms!
Lots of swine-fed mosquitoes in and around swine farms!
January 19, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Stephen Edache on feeding patterns of mosquitoes on swine farms in the US
Lots of swine-fed mosquitoes in and around swine farms!
Lots of swine-fed mosquitoes in and around swine farms!
Rohit Nallari on swine movement networks at the county level in Ohio
Not much transitivity, but fast movement of ASF
Not much transitivity, but fast movement of ASF
January 19, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Rohit Nallari on swine movement networks at the county level in Ohio
Not much transitivity, but fast movement of ASF
Not much transitivity, but fast movement of ASF
Brennan Hunt on targeted sequencing for characterizing Salmonella in metagenomics
Single capture probes did enrich, but not by much. Double capture much better. Both better than culture
Single capture probes did enrich, but not by much. Double capture much better. Both better than culture
January 19, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Brennan Hunt on targeted sequencing for characterizing Salmonella in metagenomics
Single capture probes did enrich, but not by much. Double capture much better. Both better than culture
Single capture probes did enrich, but not by much. Double capture much better. Both better than culture