Pandata Videos and Upgrading Your Game
Yesterday I was in a meeting run by Pandata that I've begun to attend as often as I have time (which I hope to continue to make because each one has been excellent). This particular meeting was run by Great Ape conservationist Leo Biddle, and was so chock full of interesting bits of information that are usually just outside of my easy information reach (and probably unique to most everyone) that I inquired about re-hearing it and was pointed toward a Rumble page that houses Pandata talks. This is great because I've only attended four or so of the talks over the past ten weeks. Every one of them was of the quality that I want to watch the rest, and that I would recommend them to those following pandemic information closely for best understanding, including to scientists and physicians.
Here is an example of one that I was fortunate enough to attend that was run by Josh Guetzkow, PhD. Since I'm somebody catching up on an understanding of biology beyond simple classroom knowledge (I've read many hundreds of biology papers these past couple of years to varying degrees of understanding), getting to experience a talk like this was quite helpful. One thing that I do when I watch a good talk is to jump on someplace like PubMed and skim or read a few basic sciences articles. If you don't know what I mean by "basic sciences articles", search a few terms and see the difference between papers that are simply focused on explaining one mechanism or one protein or a two page explanation of some biological terminology.
Understanding SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 is a complex task for the world's millions of scientists and doctors. That's the level of complexity we're dealing with. Any one of them, or of us, cannot be expected to understand everything going on. But if you find an interest in some corner of pandemic research or analysis, you may educate or work yourself to a level of participation. Very often that means starting with the best and most coherent talks.
I am proud of South Africans, or at least some born in South Africa. And I realise that where your are born had little to do with where you are now, but still proud! Nick Hudson, Tess Lawrie, Paul Marik!
Glad you enjoy the talks Matthew. Not only have I learnt a lot and had some fascinating conversations with incredible people all around the world; but each week I'm reminded of how selflessly so many individuals are pouring their energy into understanding a problem of enormous complexity and one so damaging to society in general.
All do so entirely voluntarily, often incurring great cost to their reputations, professional lives & time. Each talk and paper is a microcosm of the amount of time and research individuals are dedicating to creating them and understanding those of others.
Despite censor and censure each week they keep turning up to try to ensure truth endures; that the public, children & vulnerable are not increasingly harmed by individuals tasked in public office with that role and generously recompensed to do so.
Sane, honest, compassionate & courageous adults do still exist in Pandata and many other groups around the world. Corrupted elites picked a fight with all of them; they will not escape the consequences.