U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health scientist Jacqueline Epping will talk about physical activity and public health for the Esther Larson McGinnis Lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, in the Prairie Room of the Bone Student Center.

The talk, titled “The Evolution of Physical Activity and Public Health,” is free and open to the public.

Epping is a senior health scientist with the Applied Research, Guidelines and Policy Team of the Physical Activity and Health Branch, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She has played key roles developing activities, programs, and initiatives at national and state levels. She helped create the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the National Physical Activity Plan, the National Physical Activity Society and the proposed Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking and Walkability.

Over the course of her career, she has focused on both older adults and children as specific populations in which to promote physical activity. She is a co-author of Growing Stronger: Strength Training for Older Adults. One of her current lines of research is using dog walking as a means to increase physical activity.

The event is sponsored by the Esther Larson McGinnis Fund and the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. Albert Harold McGinnis established this fund in memory of his wife, Esther Larson McGinnis.

The talk is also part of The Speaker Series of Illinois State University, which seeks to bring innovative and enlightening speakers to the campus with the aim of providing the community with a platform to foster dialogue, cultivate enriching ideas, and continue an appreciation of learning as an active and lifelong process.

More information on all speakers can be found on the Speaker Series website.