For a simple science-makes-you-famous message, Hwang Woo-Suk is hard to
beat. According to the wikipedia entry on this pioneering stem-cell research
scientist:
'Hwang grew up in a poor mountain town in the central Korean province of
South Chungcheong. He worked at a farm to finance his studies when his
widowed mother could not earn enough to provide for him and five other
siblings. Hwang grew up to respect his elders and the way of life and to
learn to depend upon what he had.'
Thanks to his decision to study veterinary science he became a Korean
national hero so famous he's been in the news in probably every country on
earth for the last few months. A great tale for steering celebrity-hungry
youngsters along the road to a degree in science not law or PPE. And it's
got bathos in abundance, surely an indispensable ingredient in the allure of
the most famous rock stars.
Chris
> -----Original Message-----
> On Behalf Of Lesley Newson
> What is so sad about this "famous people with sciece degrees"
> discussion is that all the people mentioned (apart from
> Albert Einstein, of course, who was of a different era)
> became famous because they elected to give up science and do
> something else. It could almost be said that they became
> celebrities IN SPITE of studying science.
>
> The lesson here seems to be that fame hungry youngsters
> should avoid studying science. It involves a life of
> beavering away on the sidelines.
> You will do things that are undoubtedly important but you are
> not likely to get public recognition for your contribution -
> unless of course you happen to work in an animal lab and then
> you risk becoming infamous.
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