Last year, PBS released a documentary about James Watson (American Masters: Decoding Watson). Watson received a Nobel Prize in 1962 with Francis Crick for their contribution in discovering the structure of DNA. This documentary has left many researchers very angry because Watson is filmed discussing his perspectives on the intellectual differences between ethnicities. (The director of the National Institutes of Health responded that there is no solid evidence to back up Watson’s claims and how unfortunate it is for this opinion to be perpetuated by him.)
Many scientists on twitter are calling for action to try to minimize support for known discriminatory researchers. Which is great! But in the meantime, I wanted to direct the headlight to a really cool researcher: Rita Levi-Montalcini!
Levi-Montalcini would eventually go on to be awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology, but her father was reluctant of her obtaining higher education (this would make her less desirable as a wife). However, she decided early to never marry and she lived past 100 years old (1909 – 2012) without ever marrying nor having children. She would comment that her other relationships were fulfilling enough to not regret these decisions.
Levi-Montalcini lived through World War 2, which forced her to leave academia temporarily because she was unable to work due to her Jewish descent. So she set up a laboratory in her own bedroom (twice!). She bought eggs and studied chick embryo development (cooking with the leftover yolks). This would eventually lead her to study tumors (at a university lab) with Stanley Cohen. Their discovery of a cellular growth signal (nerve growth factor, or NGF) would be awarded the Nobel Prize in 1986. But Levi-Montalcini made all sorts of other contributions, like developing new techniques, advocating for female scientists, serving as an Italian Senator, and more.
While many celebrities are being exposed for various discriminatory beliefs now, Rita Levi-Montalcini reminds us that you can be a successful scientist and still be a good person.
Originally posted on Instagram January 11, 2019
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