Entomologist Samuel Ramsey To Give AIHA CONNECT Opening Keynote

AIHA CONNECT will take place May 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio, and will be livestreamed for an online audience.

AIHA has engaged Samuel Ramsey, PhD, to be the opening keynote speaker at AIHA CONNECT 2024. His presentation, “The Power of Peculiar Thinking: Problem-Solving Through Creativity and Ingenuity,” will kick off the conference and expo for occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals at 8 a.m. Eastern time on May 20, 2024. AIHA CONNECT will take place May 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio, and will be livestreamed for an online audience.

Ramsey, one of only a handful of African Americans to have earned a PhD in entomology, is the endowed professor of entomology at the University of Colorado Boulder. Ramsey’s entomological work has won awards from the American Bee Research Conference, the Acarological Society of America, and the International Three-Minute Thesis Competition. He has been featured in outlets from the Washington Post to the Hulu docuseries “Your Attention Please.” He teaches effective communication and real-world problem-solving through understanding the deep interconnectedness between all organisms.

In his AIHA CONNECT opening keynote, Ramsey will share how he linked a family member’s health struggles to his research to arrive at a powerful conclusion on a parasitic pandemic harming honeybees worldwide. Ramsey will walk attendees through his process for peculiar thinking, which stimulates the brain to process ideas in new and unique ways and clear blocks in thinking and productivity.

“Ramsey’s keynote presentation promises to ignite creativity and ingenuity among our diverse community of occupational and environmental health and safety professionals,” said Alla Orlova, managing director of education and technical initiatives for AIHA. “His unique perspective will challenge us to break free from conventional boundaries and explore uncharted territory in problem-solving.”

AIHA CONNECT, formerly AIHce EXP, is the preeminent conference for OEHS professionals. The conference supports attendees in discovering industry trends, state-of-the-art research, and new technologies, as well as in fostering professional connections. AIHA CONNECT programming builds participants’ knowledge and expertise through high-quality, peer-reviewed presentations, product demonstrations, poster sessions, table talks, and pre-and post-conference professional development courses.

“AIHA CONNECT is more than a traditional conference,” said Bethany Chirico, AIHA’s managing director of global meetings and outreach. “It is a dynamic hub where emerging industry, pioneering research, and collaborative networks converge. This conference is a catalyst for knowledge, inspiration, and connections that propel excellence in safeguarding workplace and community health.”

“We look forward to welcoming OEHS professionals in person and online as we collectively explore how we can make our workplaces and communities healthier,” Chirico said.

All AIHA CONNECT programming, including the professional development courses to be held May 18, 19, and 23, will be held in the Greater Columbus Convention Center. For more information or to register, please visit the AIHA CONNECT website.

Press passes are available with proof of credentials. Email Ina Xhani to request a pass.