Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "History Explorer Podcast: 30th Anniversary of HIV and AIDS"

Biotechnology at the Cutting Edge

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:54:27 GMT

Get an introduction to some of today’s top researchers and the basics of biotechnology, biofuel, genetics, health, and agriculture. This video features interviews with four leading scientists in biotechnology who tell us what drew them to the field: Dr. Pardis Sabeti, Assistant Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University; Dr. Jay Keasling, Chief Executive Officer, Joint BioEnergy Institute, U.S. Department of Energy; Dr. Karen Nelson, Director, Rockville, Maryland, Campus of the J. Craig Venter Institute; Dr. Robert Fraley, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer, Monsanto Company

HIV and AIDS Thirty Years Ago

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:39:37 GMT

This online exhibition examines the public health, scientific, and political responses in the early phase (1981-87) of the global HIV and AIDS pandemic. The website features photographs, magazine covers and public health information pamphlets from AIDS service organizations.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that produces AIDS by impairing the human immune system and allowing diseases such as pneumonia and various cancers to take hold. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the term for the combination of infection with HIV, a reduced number of specific immune system cells (ones with CD4 surface proteins), and the illnesses associated with HIV.

Treasures of American History: National Challenges

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:56:27 GMT

In this section of the online exhibition Treasures of American History, students will learn that by understanding the challenges of the past, they can draw lessons and inspiration for confronting new challenges in the present and future. The topics discussed in this section are: the American Revolution; slavery; westward expansion; the Civil War, women's suffrage, the Great Depression and World War II, the Civil Rights movement and AIDS. A Spanish version of the exhibition is available on the exhibition's homepage.