"I used to think it was mostly about mastering fancy techniques, but that is really of secondary importance. It's really picking a good question to work on, and seeing a possible connection that other people hadn't seen."
"A lot of science is seeing connections and being primed to recognize a possibility. But to get to that point, you have to invest in educating people."
"'We were in the midst of the Cold War and the space race,' he said. 'Scientists and engineers were celebrated.'"
William Kaelin elucidated the cellular mechanism for sensing and responding to oxygen levels, defining a fundamental physiological pathway. The discovery enabled novel treatments for kidney cancer and holds implications for treating anemia and reducing damage from heart attacks. Kaelin shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Peter Ratcliffe and Gregg Semenza for the oxygen-sensing work. Kaelin attributes major scientific advances to recognizing connections, selecting strong questions, and investing in education rather than solely mastering techniques. Early hands-on experiences such as chemistry kits, construction toys, microscopes, and fishing fostered his interest in science.
Read at Harvard Gazette
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