THE White House coronavirus adviser who clashed with Donald Trump over the pandemic is to join an Edinburgh University debate on Covid-19, it has emerged.
Dr Anthony Fauci was called "a disaster" by the former president after repeatedly contradicting his assessment of the growing health crisis.
His family faced death threats as he tried to get the US public to listen to medics and scientists while Trump played down the dangers of Covid.
Now the chief medical adviser to Joe Biden, Fauci – a leading infectious disease expert – says the change in administration means he can "let the science speak" without fear of "repercussions".
Today one of Scotland's most respected universities has named Fauci as one of the scientific giants set to join its new debate series on the future implications of Covid-19.
Others lined up by Edinburgh University include Dr Nanshan Zhong, China’s top respiratory diseases expert.
The institution's own Professor Devi Sridhar will also take part in the Edinburgh Futures Conversations sessions.
The opening debate, which focuses on public health, will be chaired by former Botswanan health minister Professor Sheila Tlou, co-chair of the Nursing Now Global Campaign.
Sridhar, and Baillie Gifford chair in the ethics of data and artificial intelligence, Shannon Vallor, will also join the event to share their perspectives of the pandemic and how to reshape public health systems.
Participants will examine the role that universities and students can play in nurturing a multi-sector, multi-level approach to collective action.
The free online event will take place on Tuesday March 2.
Further events in the series will focus on Covid-19’s impact on the global economy, social justice, sustainability, the creative sectors, and East-West relations.
The events will enable global influencers, academic experts and policymakers to discuss the longer term impacts of Covid-19.
The series is hosted on behalf of the University by the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI).
Professor Lesley McAra, director of EFI, said: "The global pandemic demonstrates the need for international cooperation and mutual understanding to solve the many threats that our planet is facing today.
"Universities have a vital role to play in bringing diverse and competing interests to the table, as well as providing research evidence. The Edinburgh Futures Institute is proud to be hosting these conversations on behalf of the University of Edinburgh."
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