UC Davis Distinguished Professor Walter Leal hosted Nobel laureates Charles Rice and Randy Schekman for virtual visits to his undergraduate biochemistry class, according to a Mar. 10 announcement. The events gave 220 students the chance to interact directly with leading scientists in their field.
The opportunity was described by students as both inspirational and motivational, offering them unique access to scientific leaders they would not have otherwise encountered during their studies. Leal said, “The Nobel laureate visits provided students with opportunities they never imagined when enrolling in an undergraduate class.”
Rice, a virologist and UC Davis alumnus who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020, encouraged students to seek research opportunities on campus and advised them to “find what you love and do whatever you can to make your dreams into a reality.” Schekman, who received the Nobel Prize in 2013 for his work on cell membrane vesicle trafficking, discussed the importance of government funding for scientific research. One student commented, “Dr. Randy Schekman’s visit definitely spoke to me deeply as a student interested in science and politics.”
Students reflected positively on the experience through anonymous evaluations. Comments included: “I would have never imagined that I would be ‘face to face’ with 2 Nobel Laureates! As a first-generation (college student), I truly appreciate the opportunity and all of the advice that these two amazing Nobel laureates gave us.” Another wrote, “It was an incredible opportunity. Their names pop up in the news, but they don’t seem real until you meet these incredible scientists.”
Leal explained that inviting prominent scientists is part of a tradition he continues each winter quarter since joining the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Davis. He said, “Overall, hearing about the Nobel laureates’ struggles, failures, and persistence reassured students about their own challenges. These were highly valuable educational experiences, deeply inspirational and motivating, and events they will remember forever.”
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources enhances lives statewide by sharing science-based practices according to its official website. The organization maintains nine Research and Extension Centers across diverse ecosystems according to its official website and operates offices in all 58 California counties according to its official website. It applies University of California expertise through research initiatives supporting communities throughout California according to its official website, building collaborations for effective approaches in farming, environmental conservation, wildfire protection, nutrition education, food networks and youth programs for more than a century according to its official website. Glenda Humiston serves as vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources according to its official website.
Looking ahead, such interactions between undergraduates and accomplished researchers may continue fostering inspiration among future scientists while highlighting the value of public investment in research.