The inaugural Leann Birch Memorial Childhood Obesity Lecture honors the significant career contributions of Birch, who served as a faculty member in the department of foods and nutrition within the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the time of her death in May 2019. Birch was an internationally renowned researcher and pioneer in the study of children's eating behavior.

During her 40-year career, she authored more than 250 publications and was awarded more than $30 million in federal research funding. Her most recent work advanced the science of early obesity prevention.

A reception will follow the lecture.