Posted Friday, April 20, 2012 --- 7:05 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A former National Science Foundation director is set to speak at the University of Wisconsin-Madison about links between the weather and disease.

Rita Colwell is set to appear on campus Friday afternoon. She's scheduled to discuss evidence that many human diseases and epidemics are linked to climate, weather and environmental conditions that public health officials don't understand. The talk is free and open to the public.

Colwell served as NSF director from 1998 until 2004. She has written 17 books.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.