Simon Schama’s Foreign Bodies, a dramatic account of heroes, heroines and villains instrumental in the development of vaccines that saved millions from smallpox, cholera and plague in the 18th to early 20th centuries, also sheds light on political and scientific conflicts during the Covid pandemic. His colorful cast of characters includes unsung microbiologist Waldemar Haffkine (1860-1930), originator of the first mass production cholera vaccine, and familiar figures such as Pasteur. University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University, best selling author of award-winning books, as well as prolific presenter of documentaries for the BBC, Schama discusses his passionate belief in the interconnectedness of humanity and nature with biologist Elizabeth Meyer-Bernstein, Dean of the College of Charleston Honors College.

Recorded November 4, 2023