Charlotte Smith, PhD
Charlotte Smith & Associates, Inc.

Trojan Horses of the Microbial World: How Bacteria Exploit Protozoa for Shelter and Transport

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Typically aquatic protozoa are predators of bacteria, using them for their main food source.  However, some bacteria evade digestion. Dr. Smith will show how three imaging techniques − live imaging, confocal scanning laser microscopy, and electron microscopy − were used to evaluate whether six pathotypes of E. coli that cause diarrhea can survive passage through the ciliated protozoa, Tetrahymena.

Charlotte Smith holds a Bachelors of Science in Microbiology, a Master’s Degree in Community Health, and a PhD from UC Berkeley in Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Smith has over 25 years’ experience solving drinking water quality problems. Before establishing Charlotte Smith & Associates, Inc. in 1994, Ms. Smith was employed by New York City DEP-Drinking Water Quality Division, and GWC, which operated 35 water utilities in 15 states. She has several water industry awards including the “2001 Golden Spigot Award”.  Dr. Smith was a
member of a committee of the National Academy of Sciences that addressed the risk of post-treatment water contamination. At UC Berkeley, she teaches Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences and Drinking Water and Health, and is the faculty sponsor of Global Health and Poverty. She has over 50 publications and presentations.

6:30-7:00 pm – Light supper and Networking

7:00 pm – Presentation

Register at this link: http://ebawisnovember2012.eventbrite.com/

FEE: $5 for members, $10 for non-members – Registering with Eventbrite will say free, however, fee will be collected at the door

LOCATION: Novartis, 5400 Hollis St, Building X-310 Emeryville, CA

Parking available in front of the building

The non-native kelp Undaria pinnatifida is a quick-growing kelp that is a “least-wanted” pest species around the world.  Undaria has become established in the Bay Area on docks and boats.  Smithsonian ecologists are concerned as its quick growth and large size gives it an advantage over native species and are monitoring and removing it from the SF Bay.  Volunteers are needed to help in this effort in order to limit its influence on our California ecosystem

ebAWIS is partnering with Smithsonian scientists to help remove kelp from along the SF boat docks.  Middle school and high school age girls (and boys), as well as adults, are encouraged to participate!

When: October 14, 9 am -noon  Where: South Beach Marina,  SF

Volunteers will be scouring the docks and boats for this invasive kelp and pulling up kelp that can be reached easily from bending down or lying on the docks.

Note: This activity is not advised for young children who cannot swim and/or individuals who are not comfortable around water.

Sign up: E-mail Marianne Kavanagh at  kavmar100 at yahoo.com.  A contact phone number will be supplied for participants also.  If weather is very stormy we will cancel and email everyone the night before.  A little rain won’t deter us though!

What to bring: Layered comfortable clothing, sturdy shoes, hat, beach towel, sunscreen, plenty of water and snacks. As we will be walking on unstable piers, let us know if you cannot swim and we will assign you to data collection duties.

Important: Print and bring the linked release form with you.

If you have questions about the process or what will happen, please feel free to email us.  Click on the outreach page  above for more details.

Come out to San Francisco to do something fun to help our California ecosystem.