Luther College Regent Dr. Michael Osterholm has not one, but two new books

(Photo courtesy of Luther College)

Dr. Michael Osterholm, a 1975 Luther College graduate, is best known for his work with research into infectious diseases.  But the former Minnesota State Epidemiologist has another side to his personality and will be showing that in the near future in Decorah.

Osterholm will be visiting Luther College on Tuesday, April 4th.  He will give a lecture about epidemics--the topic of his new book, "Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs."  He will be signing copies of that book before the 7:00 p.m. lecture in the Main Hall of Luther's Center for Faith & Life.

But "Deadliest Enemy" is not the only book Osterholm is currently promoting.  A children's book inspired by the success of Osterholm's work to restore a stream in Allamakee County--"Creekfinding"--has just been published by the University of Minnesota press.

Osterholm bought the Allamakee County property with the intention to turn it into a prairie. He later learned there had been a creek running through the property, so he built up a stream bed with rocks and native prairie grasses. "Brook Creek," as it is now called, is now home to birds and frogs and insects.  Caldecott Award-winning author Jacqueline Briggs Martin heard about Osterholm's creek, so she worked with him and ilustrator Claudia McGehee to bring "Creekfinding" to life.