From
My Dad's Garage to the Nobel Prize
Barry
Marshall, M.D.
My
desire for a career in science has its roots
in my childhood. I was fortunate to
have a great family and teachers who inspired me. I’m
told I was born with an exuberant and inquisitive
nature.
As a boy growing up, my brothers and I
had access to all the tools needed to build or dismantle anything
in my dad’s garage. My favourite book
as a child was an old Newne’s Children’s Encyclopaedia.
Each volume had special chapters called “Things Boys Can Do”.
I would pick out interesting projects. As
the years went by, and I grew up, I built slingshots,
crystal sets, Morse-code sets, various guns, a hydrogen generator
for balloons, electric devices and minor
explosives. By then fireworks had been banned, but chemicals
were easily available from pharmacies and chemical suppliers
so, in the tradition of Alfred Nobel, we would create explosive
mixtures to use in firecrackers.
In school, I sometimes was the top of my
class but mostly did not work hard enough to stay there.
I was always busy with other hobbies. At
home, I had plenty of interesting reading material.
Dad always explained the car engine when he repaired it, and
he had many technical books; so I was making electromagnets
by age 8, as well as freely perusing my mother’s
medical and nursing books.
At Newman College, I had two
great science teachers. The thing that impressed
me the most was how much they enjoyed teaching science classes.
They were always enthusiastic and taught
me to solve problems. I decided I wanted to have a career
that I would be similarly passionate about and I knew that
it would involve science in some way.
After high school, I felt that my
mathematical ability was not strong
enough to do engineering, so I chose medical school
as an alternative. Doing medicine meant
I would be more involved with people and
also meant I would be freed from continuing with calculus!
I never imagined where it would lead.
Winning the Nobel Prize
is something that is beyond any expectation I ever had.
It has changed my life forever. The Nobel Prize celebrations
go on for a whole week every year in early December.
I was overwhelmed by the generosity of spirit of the Nobel’s.
The entire Swedish nation joins together to celebrate the
achievements of science, literature and those who have worked
for peace. I have been traveling around the
world for the last six months and
everyone I meet is happy to celebrate, not just my success,
but the achievements by all scientists who have worked on
Helicobacter pylori.
Dr Barry Marshall with schoolchildren in China.
The title of Nobel Laureate is more than
just an honour that I have received. It signifies becoming
part of this amazing tradition. It’s a job for
life.
Dr. Barry Marshall with wife and Dr. Robin Warren at the
Nobel Prize Ceremony
|
|
