DATE: November 13, 2008

CONTACT: Vincent Gallicchio, 864-656-1643
vsgall@clemson.edu

WRITER: Susan Benson, 864-656-3869
Benson2@clemson.edu


Clemson University professor represents 25 UNESCO centers at UN-Rotary Day in New York

CLEMSON — Clemson University professor Vincent Gallicchio represented 25 UNESCO international centers at the recent UN-Rotary Day at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Gallicchio is a Rotarian with the Anderson Club of District 7750. He was instrumental in establishing a UNESCO satellite research and education center at Clemson University. The Trace Element Institute for UNESCO is the first to be located in North America and will be part of an international network of 25 centers around the world.

At UN-Rotary Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for “international cooperation on key humanitarian issues, including health, clean air and water and elimination of hunger. “

He praised Rotary International for its commitment to help to eliminate polio around the world. To date, Rotary has contributed more than $700 million to eradicate the disease. That will rise to more than $850 million by the time the world is certified polio-free.

"Over 1,600 delegates representing 44 countries and 22 states met to learn how Rotary International works cooperatively with the various agencies within the U.N.,” Gallicchio said. “Delegates heard progress reports on the status of ongoing projects designed to reduce the poverty that exists in the world. The U.N. estimates 3.2 billion people currently live on less than $2 per day.”

Gallicchio is a biology professor in College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. His research interests include experimental drug therapeutic treatments for AIDS and cancer and international education pertaining to biomedical laboratory science.

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Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs, known as Rotary Clubs, with more than 1.2 million members and 33,000 clubs located in 22 countries.  

UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) supports international research to promote human health and the elimination of disease through a global network of scientists, centers and programs.