From Tomorrow's Table

Applause for Plant Physiologist Helen Stafford who bequeathed an astonishing $8M to Reed College in her will. As a woman scientist in the 1950s, Stafford was ineligible for many jobs. Reed College, not deterred by her sex, offered her a position. She went on to establish a successful career and inspired many young scientists. Here is a short story of how she influenced my career.

The windowless room, dank an dark, was not an obvious place for inspiration. I took notes, wondering if I would be able to glean anything meaningful from Professor Helen Stafford’s (1922-2011) meandering lecture. I was skeptical. After all, this was the same teacher who, annoyed with our choice of vegetarianism, had told us that “plants have feelings, too”.

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From Tomorrow’s Table

“Nothing more fun than making discoveries in nature and then seeing them used for the public good ”

Listen to the NPR interview with enthusiastic Professor Emeritus Murray Gardener.

He describes recent UCDavis symposium with 2011 Nobel Laureates Bruce Beutler and Jules Hoffman

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From Tomorrow's Table

The University of California, Davis, will host two Nobel laureates for a symposium this month about the shared characteristics of plants, flies and people in terms of how they fight infections.

“Evolution of Common Molecular Pathways Underlying Innate Immunity” will feature the 2011 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine, Jules Hoffmann of the University of Strasbourg, France, and Bruce Beutler of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. Luke O’Neill, professor of biochemistry and immunology at Trinity College, Dublin and I will also give lectures.

The symposium is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the UC Davis Conference Center. Admission is free, with preregistration required online.

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