Nathan Wolfe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nathan D. Wolfe
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Wolfe in 2011
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| Born | August 24, 1970 |
| Alma mater | Stanford, Harvard |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Virology |
| Institutions | Stanford, UCLA |
Nathan Daniel Wolfe (born August 24, 1970) is an American virologist. A virologist is a scientist who studies viruses. He is known for his work on how viruses spread from animals to humans.
In 2007, he started an organization called Global Viral. He was also a visiting professor at Stanford University.
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What Does Nathan Wolfe Do?
Nathan Wolfe has spent over eight years doing important research. He worked in places like sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. His research focused on understanding diseases.
He also started a company called Metabiota. This company helps governments and businesses. It helps them understand and manage risks from biological threats, like new diseases.
Discovering New Viruses
Wolfe is part of the editorial boards for EcoHealth and Scientific American. He is also a member of DARPA's Defense Science Research Council. DARPA is a group that works on new technologies for national defense.
His laboratory was one of the first to find a virus called Simian foamy virus. This virus is found in monkeys. Studying viruses in animals helps scientists understand how they might affect humans.
Warning About Pandemics
In 2008, Nathan Wolfe shared an important warning. He said that the world was not ready for a pandemic. A pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of a new disease.
In 2011, he wrote a book called The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age. This book was recognized for its important message. It was even short-listed for the Winton Prize.
In 2020, a magazine called Wired reported on some of Wolfe's work. He had worked with a German insurance company, Munich Re. They offered special insurance policies to big companies. These policies would help them if a pandemic happened. However, many companies did not buy them. This became a big problem during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awards and Recognition
Nathan Wolfe has received a lot of support for his research. He has been given over $40 million from many different groups. These include the U.S. Department of Defense, Google.org, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The National Geographic Society has also supported his work.
He has received several special awards:
- In 1997, he received a Fulbright fellowship. This award helps people study abroad.
- In 2004, he was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. This award recognizes people who are doing exciting new work.
- In 2005, he received the NIH Director's Pioneer Award. This award supports highly innovative research.
- In 2006, Popular Science magazine named him one of their "Brilliant 10."
- In 2009, Rolling Stone magazine listed him as one of the "Top 100 Agents of Change."
- In 2010, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
Personal Life
Nathan Wolfe is married to a playwright named Lauren Gunderson. They have two sons. Because of his work, he has lived in different countries. These include Cameroon, Malaysia, and Uganda.
