On July 14, 2009, Big Think and Discover cosponsored two panel discussions in which leading scientific figures explored some of the latest issues in pandemic and genomic science, fields that have not only made big headlines recently but also promise to be two of the most lively areas in global science and medicine in coming years.

The Personal Genome: What We Know Now looked at the new phenomenon of companies that analyze people's genomes for personal, non-medical uses. The panel included Boonsri Dickinson, an assistant editor at DISCOVER who wrote about her experience getting her genome analyzed; Esther Dyson, a futurist, entrepreneur, and director of 23andMe, a personal-genome company; Tara Matise, computational geneticist at Rutgers University; and Harry Ostrer, director of the Human Genetics Program at NYU School of Medicine and professor of pediatrics, pathology, and medicine.

Swine Flu and the Next Pandemic focused on the real-time, round-the-clock scientific mission to understand the history, significance, and future of the new strain of flu that emerged suddenly this spring. The panel included Barry Bloom (Harvard), Jeff Koplan (Emory University), Peter Palese (Mt. Sinai Medical Center), and Michael Worobey (University of Arizona).

The discussions were held at New York's Rubin Museum of Art, and they were moderated by author, journalist, and former DISCOVER editor Paul Hoffman.