I began studying ribosomes as a postdoctoral fellow in Peter Moore's laboratory in 1978. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan More Quotes by Venkatraman Ramakrishnan More Quotes From Venkatraman Ramakrishnan I cannot imagine a more enjoyable place to work than in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology where I work. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan more place biology work I think it's important to give young people the freedom to follow their ideas and pursue their interests. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan think freedom people ideas Scientists are not movie stars or politicians who will feel insulted if they are not showered with accolades. Scientists are not interested in accolades. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan politicians will feel stars It's not about where you were born or where you come from that makes you a good scientist. What you need are good teachers, co-students, facilities. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan teachers good you born I was born in 1952 in Chidambaram, an ancient temple town in Tamil Nadu best known for its temple of Nataraja, the lord of dance. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan temple best born dance We are all human beings, and our nationality is simply an accident of birth. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan accident human human-beings birth I knew the ribosome was going to be the focus of Nobel prizes. It stands at the crossroads of biology, between the gene and what comes out of the gene. But I had convinced myself I was not going to be a winner. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan myself winner biology focus I remember reading a 'Scientific American' article about the use of new physical techniques - including neutron scattering - as a method for unravelling the structure of the ribosome. I was fascinated. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan american new reading remember Science today is a highly collaborative exercise, and to convert it into a contest, as the Nobel does, is a bad way to look at science. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan look today science way My mother, R. Rajalakshmi, taught at Annamalai University in Chidambaram, and during the day, I was well cared for by aunts and grandparents in the usual way of an extended Indian family. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan day family mother way The success in the determination of the high-resolution structures of ribosomal subunits and eventually the whole ribosome was the culmination of decades of effort. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan effort determination whole success We live in an increasingly technological world where the issues are quite complex and based on some complicated science. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan live complicated science world Even the best scientists are often insecure and feel the need for recognition. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan need feel best recognition We benefit tremendously from the E.U. Britain does very well in getting back E.U. money for the amount it puts in. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan benefit well back money I think we are intrinsically prone to being irrational and superstitious. A lot of it comes from our fear of the unknown and the fear of a lack of control over our fate. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan control think fate fear You can only go into science because you're interested in it. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan only go you science If I were to take an undergraduate chemistry exam, I would probably fail. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan fail take exam chemistry It takes a certain amount of courage to tackle very hard problems in science, I now realise. You don't know what the timescale of your work will be: decades or only a few years. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan you courage work science Unusually for an Indian man of his generation, my father, being aware of my mother's intellectual abilities, encouraged her to go abroad by herself to obtain a Ph.D. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan generation man mother father My childhood and adolescence were filled with visiting scientists from both India and abroad, many of whom would stay with us. A life of science struck me as being both interesting and particularly international in its character. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan me childhood life science
