The importance of basic scientific research was driven home Monday when three Americans won the Nobel Prize for medicine in recognition of their work, much of it done at UC Berkeley, that inspired new lines of research into cancer. As California political leaders grapple with devastating budget cuts, they must not forget that the state’s universities are not only teaching institutions but also world research leaders. And as the nation struggles with immigration policy, we must remember that many of the nation’s brilliant minds, including two of the three Nobel recipients, have come from abroad… What’s interesting is that Blackburn was born in Australia and Szostak in London. Blackburn told The New York Times that she came to the United States in the 1970s because it was "notably attractive" as a place to do science.

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by MediaNews editorial, The Contra Costa Times.

Posted: October 6th, 2009, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.