Position/Organization: co-director, Program in Science and Medical Journalism, Boston University

Douglas Starr is co-director of the graduate Program in Science and Medical Journalism at Boston University. His new book, The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science, tells the story of the 19th century pioneers of forensic science and that of Joseph Vacher, a notorious serial killer who was apprehended and convicted with their techniques. His previous book, BLOOD: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce, tells the four-century saga of how human blood became a commodity. It was published in seven languages, won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (science and technology category) and was named to the "Best Books of the Year" lists of Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal. A PBS series based on the book, Red Gold, aired in the U.S. and internationally. Starr's writings about science, medicine, public health and the environment have appeared in a variety of media outlets, including The New Republic, Science, Smithsonian, Public Television, National Public Radio, The Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine.