"I'm thankful for people who tried to make my life miserable" Katalin Karikó, Gairdner Awards Speech

CanadaGairdnerAwards
14 Nov 202207:54
EducationalLearning
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TLDRDr. Carico, a humble scientist with a rich background in biochemistry, expresses her profound gratitude for receiving the Garner International Award. Despite facing demotion and skepticism, her unwavering conviction and passion for mRNA led to groundbreaking contributions to the development of mRNA vaccines. She acknowledges the collective efforts of the scientific community and encourages students, especially girls, to pursue science for a better world.

Takeaways
  • 🏆 Dr. Carico received the Garner International Award, expressing her deep honor and surprise at being recognized alongside Drew Wesman and Peter Kulis.
  • 🔬 Dr. Carico has spent 40 years working quietly in the lab, conducting experiments and writing papers, without seeking the spotlight or praise.
  • 🏅 She attended significant ceremonies only for her daughter's Olympic achievements, where she witnessed Canadian women's success in rowing.
  • 📚 Raised by a butcher and a bookkeeper, Dr. Carico learned the value of hard work and practical skills from an early age.
  • 🌱 Her curiosity about nature and the internal mechanisms of living things led her to pursue a career in biochemistry, despite having no known scientists as role models.
  • 🎓 Despite facing demotion and a lack of popularity in academic settings, Dr. Carico remained committed to her convictions and the importance of her work.
  • 🤝 She emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and the collective contributions of many scientists to the development of mRNA vaccines.
  • 🛠️ The mRNA vaccine development is built on centuries of scientific progress and recent discoveries by thousands of experts in various fields.
  • 🏛️ Dr. Carico credits her success to her mentors, colleagues, and the opportunity to work in biotech, as well as her family's unwavering support.
  • 💪 She also acknowledges those who tried to make her life difficult, stating that they motivated her to work harder and improve herself.
  • 👧 Lastly, Dr. Carico encourages students, especially girls, to become scientists and contribute to making the world a better place.
Q & A

  • What song did Dr. Carico choose for the event?

    -Dr. Carico chose a Hungarian song titled 'Game on Escharon' by Zoran Stefanovic.

  • What award did Dr. Carico receive?

    -Dr. Carico received the Garner International Award.

  • How did Dr. Carico describe her work life before receiving the award?

    -Dr. Carico described her work life as quiet, working in the laboratory, performing experiments, writing lab notes, and papers without expecting recognition or praise.

  • What significant event did Dr. Carico attend that was not related to her work?

    -Dr. Carico attended the Olympic Games in Beijing and London, where her daughter won a Gold Medal in drawing and the Canadian women's team won a silver medal.

  • What was Dr. Carico's background before becoming a scientist?

    -Dr. Carico grew up as the daughter of a butcher and a bookkeeper in a small town with 10,000 people, learning the value of hard work and how to make sausage.

  • What was Dr. Carico's initial career aspiration?

    -Dr. Carico was curious about the internal mechanisms of living things and decided at the age of 16 that she wanted to become a scientist.

  • What challenges did Dr. Carico face in her academic career?

    -Dr. Carico faced demotion, never received a single R01 Grant, and was not popular with those who followed conventional science.

  • What message does Dr. Carico have for scientists facing skepticism?

    -Dr. Carico emphasizes that it doesn't matter the circumstances or skepticism around you; what matters is your conviction, hard work, and belief in your ability to achieve your goals.

  • How does Dr. Carico describe the development of the mRNA vaccine?

    -The mRNA vaccine was developed based on a century of scientific and technological progress and recent discoveries by thousands of scientists, doctors, engineers, and experts who advanced their respective fields.

  • What does Dr. Carico consider her greatest joy in science?

    -Dr. Carico's greatest joy in science has been the small and large victories in the laboratory, despite the disappointments of failed experiments.

  • What is Dr. Carico's advice to students, especially girls, who want to become scientists?

    -Dr. Carico encourages students, especially girls, to become scientists and to question and make the world better for all.

Outlines
00:00
🏆 Award Acceptance and Scientific Journey

Dr. Carico expresses her deep honor in receiving the Garner International Award, reflecting on her journey from a quiet laboratory life to international recognition. She acknowledges the collaborative efforts of countless scientists and engineers that contributed to the development of the mRNA vaccine, emphasizing the importance of conviction and hard work in the face of skepticism. Her personal narrative includes humble beginnings, a lack of traditional success in academia, and an unwavering passion for biochemistry and mRNA.

05:02
🌟 Gratitude and Encouragement in Science

In her speech, Dr. Carico conveys her gratitude to mentors, colleagues, and family for their support throughout her career. She also acknowledges those who challenged her, crediting them with fueling her determination and growth. The summary highlights her appreciation for the small victories in the lab and the importance of perseverance. Dr. Carico concludes by encouraging students, especially girls, to pursue science and contribute to a better world, ending her speech with a powerful message of hope and inspiration.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Gardner International Award
The Gardner International Award is a prestigious honor given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of science. In the script, Dr. Carico expresses her deep honor in receiving this award, which signifies her work's impact and recognition by the scientific community. She mentions how she felt when she read about the awardees each year and her astonishment at being a recipient.
💡mRNA
mRNA, or messenger RNA, is a molecule that conveys genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized. Dr. Carico's fascination with mRNA is a central theme in the video, as it led her to a career in biochemistry and ultimately to the development of mRNA vaccines. The script highlights her early curiosity and the significance of mRNA in the scientific breakthroughs that have benefited humanity.
💡Scientific Discovery
Scientific discovery refers to the process of uncovering new knowledge or understanding through research and experimentation. The video emphasizes the importance of perseverance and conviction in the face of skepticism and the non-linear nature of scientific progress. Dr. Carico's journey illustrates how scientific discovery can lead to significant advancements, such as the mRNA vaccine.
💡Conviction
Conviction in this context means a strong belief or certainty in one's abilities or ideas. Dr. Carico speaks about the importance of having conviction in one's work and the goals one sets for oneself, despite external skepticism or setbacks. Her conviction in the importance of her research is a driving force behind her achievements.
💡International Collaboration
International collaboration is the act of working together with individuals or groups from different countries to achieve a common goal. The script mentions that the development of the mRNA vaccine was based on the collective efforts of scientists, doctors, and engineers from around the world, highlighting the importance of global cooperation in scientific advancement.
💡Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility where scientific research and experiments are conducted. Dr. Carico describes her life working quietly in the laboratory, performing experiments and writing papers. The laboratory is portrayed as a place of dedicated work and discovery, where she pursued her passion for understanding the mechanisms of life.
💡Demoted
To demote someone means to reduce their rank or status. In the script, Dr. Carico mentions being demoted in her academic setting, which signifies the challenges and setbacks she faced in her career. Despite this, her determination to continue her research is a testament to her resilience.
💡Ceremony
A ceremony is a formal event or occasion, often to celebrate achievements or mark significant occasions. Dr. Carico contrasts the big ceremonies she attended, such as her daughter's Olympic achievements, with the smaller, personal victories she experienced in the laboratory. The mention of ceremonies provides a backdrop for the recognition of her own accomplishments.
💡Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was a renowned polymath of the Renaissance known for his art, science, and inventions. In the script, Dr. Carico quotes da Vinci to illustrate the idea that experiments are valuable in themselves, regardless of whether they meet expectations. This quote reflects her perspective on the process of scientific discovery.
💡Adversity
Adversity refers to difficulties or challenges that one faces. Dr. Carico expresses gratitude to those who tried to make her life miserable, as they motivated her to work harder and improve herself. This concept is central to her narrative of overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
💡Curiosity
Curiosity is the desire to learn or know more about something. Dr. Carico's curiosity about the natural world and the internal mechanisms of living things is what led her to pursue a career in science. Her story exemplifies how curiosity can be a powerful driving force in scientific exploration and discovery.
Highlights

Dr. Carico receives the Garner International Award and expresses her honor in joining the ranks of previous awardees.

She shares the award with Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó, acknowledging the significance of their collaboration.

Dr. Carico reflects on her 40-year career working quietly in the lab, focusing on the importance of her research rather than seeking recognition.

She recounts attending Olympic ceremonies for her daughter's achievements, drawing a parallel to her own moment of receiving the award.

Raised by a butcher and a bookkeeper, Dr. Carico emphasizes the values of hard work instilled by her parents.

Despite humble beginnings, Dr. Carico's curiosity and passion for understanding living mechanisms led her to a career in biochemistry.

Dr. Carico faced demotion and lack of funding during her academic career but remained committed to her convictions and research.

She encourages scientists to stay true to their passion and work hard, regardless of skepticism or circumstances.

Dr. Carico acknowledges the collective effort behind the development of mRNA vaccines, built on centuries of scientific progress.

The award recognizes not just her work, but the contributions of countless scientists, doctors, and experts in the field.

Dr. Carico's scientific journey has been filled with twists and turns, highlighting the importance of international collaboration.

She finds joy in the small victories of the laboratory and uses a Leonardo da Vinci quote to cope with experimental setbacks.

Dr. Carico expresses gratitude to the Garner award committee and all those who supported her throughout her journey.

She thanks her mentors, colleagues, and family for their unwavering support and encouragement in her scientific endeavors.

Dr. Carico also acknowledges those who tried to make her life difficult, as they motivated her to work harder and improve.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Carico encourages students, especially girls, to pursue science and make the world better.

Transcripts

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Scientist StorymRNA VaccineGardner AwardPerseveranceBiochemistryCurious MindsInternational AwardScience PassionOlympic SpiritResearch Dedication