Scientists

How the Prize for the sciences are awarded are detailed here: http://bit.ly/18KvDBz
Photos via: Nobelprize.org

For Chemistry, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to Michael Levitt (b. 1947 – South Africa), Martin Karplus (b. 1930 – Austria), and Arieh Warshel (b. 1940 – Israel). They were selected “for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems.”
Their work was pivotal in creating computer programs capable of modeling molecular interactions.
More info: http://bit.ly/19zStyO

For Physics, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to François Englert (b. 1932 – Belgium) and Peter Higgs (b. 1929 – UK), the two men who theorized the existence of the Higgs Boson. They were selected “for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.”
This award is a long time coming, as it was first theorized in 1964.
For a detailed explanation of the importance of the Higgs Boson, physicist Brian Greene of World Science Festival explains in this video: http://bit.ly/17ek42I
More info: http://bit.ly/1a8fFPP

For Physiology or Medicine, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to James E. Rothman (b. 1950 – USA), Randy W. Schekman (b. 1948 – USA), and Thomas C. Südhof (b. 1955 – Germany). They were selected “for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells.”
More info: http://bit.ly/16trzGl

My Inspirations…. Thank You

Initially I had intended to post a collage of some scientific advancements today, but as is evidenced by the lateness of today’s entry it is taking longer than I expected to put together (will do a year in review next week instead). So instead I would like to acknowledge some of the scientists who have opened my eyes to this beautiful world to date. (I should add these scientists are still alive today since there are still a few who I do adore and are dead. And these scientists are still only a few of the many but they stand out to me at the moment)

Dr. Shirin Haque

Now I can go on and on about her achievements or direct you here ->  

http://www.niherst.gov.tt/icons/women-in-science/shirin-haque.html
But that to me isn’t really all that important. To me she is a wicked awesome Astronomy teacher, a patient understanding Deputy Dean of Student Affairs at the University of the West Indies and most importantly an encouraging friend. When I was just about ready to give up on my degree, she is one of the few who encouraged me not to and reminded me that ‘the race is not for the swiftest but for those who simply refused to give up.’ A very hearty THANK YOU to you.

Mr. Jason Mathew

 

So I don’t know much about Mr. Mathew and the only links I can insert are ->

http://biochemjm.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/changing-the-way-we-teach-and-learn-one-podcast-at-a-time/

and
https://twitter.com/Jase_Matt2013

What can I say about this Biochem teacher?

Definitely not an easy marker. But if nothing else he makes himself available to the students should they have any concerns or queries and is not one of those intimidating teachers you are afraid to ask a question to for fear that they bite your head off. Personally I believe he technologically revolutionized learning at the University of the West Indies (as indicated in the videos). THANK YOU for making me enjoy learning again. (Most times anyway)
P.S. Wicked memory. Every time it amazes me that he knows the names of each of the 300+ students in the classes I attended and I’m sure it’s the same with the others.

Dr. Waveney Charles

 

The one in the middle. I don’t exactly have a link for her except one showing her office information. ->

http://eejusthematology.org/member/profile/WCharles

One of, if not the leading haematologist in the Caribbean. She is very no nonsense. In fact you can say she is like Dr. Gregory House in some ways. You may not always agree with her methods but they ALWAYS work. There are many things I can mention about Dr. W. Charles but scientifically I must say THANK YOU for teaching me Introductory Genetics before I even knew my seven times tables (which I did by the time, if not before I was in primary school level). By the time I was learning about it for Ordinary Level Examinations in high school, I knew with certainty every detail they could have thrown at me about genetic inheritance at that level and indeed a bit into university level.

Rowan Atkinson a.k.a Mr. Bean 

If not for his previous roles such as Edmund Blackadder, but EVERYONE today knows of the infamous, hilarious Mr. Bean.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000100/bio

But how many knew he went to top Universities in England and earned degrees in engineering? (Plural.) He was one of the first who taught me that disciplines can mix. Before him, I thought if you want to be in the arts you need to study the arts. If you study science you are relegated to the sciences. THANK YOU ‘Mr. Bean’ for teaching me I can study something I know and still do something I love.

Bill Nye (the Science Guy)

 

Now what 90s kid doesn’t remember him? My first serious influence that Science is Super Cool. (Just realized he is still going strong. ->

http://www.billnye.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealBillNye

Definitely going to follow this vampiric Scientist…. Anyone else noticed he hasn’t aged? He’s just using hair dye so that people won’t get suspicious. Too late Bill)

Ms.  Fizzle

Ok. Strictly speaking, she is not a real person so in all fairness she can’t be alive right. I will go down fighting ‘She is too a real person. At least to me.’ Probably not as well know as Bill since she was only in ‘The Magic School Bus’ but THANK YOU Ms. Fizzle for making Science come alive to the toddler/child that was me during the running of the show.

With these and other influences, even though I may be down at times, I know I can count on each and every one of them to help me through. To my Nobel Prize winners of Inspiration