Prof. Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc (hon) FAAP FASTMH is Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine where he is also Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine. He is also University Professor of Biology at Baylor University, Senior Fellow in Disease and Humanity at the James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Dr. Hotez is a vaccine scientist, biochemist, and pediatrician who has led or co-led the development of vaccines for parasitic infections-hookworm, schistosomiasis, Chagas disease-currently in clinical trials, and several coronavirus vaccines, including two low-cost COVID vaccines for global health so far administered to 100 million children and adults in India and Indonesia. He is also an ardent vaccine advocate and science explainer who combats antiscience and antisemitism in America, and globally.
Professor Hotez's talk is part of Iowa City Darwin Day's 2026 Science Fest, a multi-day celebration of evolutionary science, public health, and evidence‑based thinking. This year’s events include seminar and public talks by nationally recognized scholars focused on vaccines, science communication, and global health. There is also a Thursday evening book reading at Prairie Lights and an on-site vaccine booth on Friday and Saturday where attendees can check their immunization status and receive MMR, COVID-19, Tdap, Hep A/B, RSV, and Shingles vaccines on the spot.
All events are free and open to the public. For the full schedule, visit iowacitydarwinday.org.
Iowa City Darwin Day 2026 Science Fest sponsors: The University of Iowa Department of Biology; Vaccinate Your Family; UI College of Public Health; Iowa Immunizes; Obermann Center for Advanced Studies; UI Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences; Royal Society Publishing; UI Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies; UI School of Earth, Environment & Sustainability; UI Office of the Vice President for Research; UI College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; UI Department of Internal Medicine; UI Libraries; Nodo; UI Department of Anthropology; and 126.