Feb. 26, 2026: Science on Tap: Tiny Organs & Tricky Viruses

Flyer for “Science on Tap New River Valley: Tiny Organs & Tricky Viruses.” Event is Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at Rising Silo Brewery, 2351 Glade Road, Blacksburg, VA. The talk features Hannah Brown, who studies hepatitis E virus using organoids, or lab-grown mini-organs. The flyer invites attendees to join an interactive challenge about hepatitis E infection and notes the event is free and open to the public. A photo shows a smiling researcher in a lab coat working at a biosafety cabinet in a laboratory. Logos for the Center for Communicating Science, Science on Tap, and Sigma Xi appear at the bottom, along with accessibility contact information.

February 26, 5:30 p.m., Rising Silo Brewery, 2351 Glade Road, Blacksburg

Science on Tap: Tiny Organs & Tricky Viruses

How do you study a virus that refuses to cooperate in the lab?

U.S. National Science Foundation COMPASS (COMmunity Empowering Pandemic Prediction and Prevention from Atoms to SocietieS) Center and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine postdoctoral researcher Hannah Brown studies hepatitis E virus (HEV), a virus that can spread from animals to people, often through contaminated food, and can be especially dangerous for certain groups. Using organoids, tiny, lab-grown mini-organs that mimic real human organs, she investigates how HEV infects the body and how it causes disease. Join us for her presentation "Tiny organs and tricky viruses" and an interactive challenge to see how your “health status” stacks up against a hepatitis E infection.

Free and open to the public. Hosted by the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech's chapter of Sigma Xi.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Smith at erinsmith@vt.edu during regular business hours at least ten days before the event.