We all have our different reasons for pursuing science. Many of us are natural tinkerers, and want to know how and why things work. Others discover careers in science along a once medicine-bound pathway. Still others grow up fascinated with bugs, snakes, and large sea creatures. And some of us were inspired by an extraordinary science teacher.

At UC-Berkeley, we are lucky enough to be surrounded by enthusiastic professors who have profound impacts on student trajectories. And although the accolades of the particularly high-impact professors are well sung by their students, there's nothing like some national prospective to remind us of just how important these teacher-student interactions can be. Imagine my surprise when I visited Science Friday this morning (science radio is a necessity for performing tedious microscope dissections) and encountered a familiar face up front and center. I did a double take ... could it be? Yes, it was Integrative Biology's beloved professor Tom Carlson! (Okay, okay, as one of his GSIs for Medical Ethnobotany, the course featured, I felt a twinge of fame-by-association giddiness)

Former medical ethnobotany student and Science Friday associate senior producer Christopher Intagliata tells Dr. Carlson that it was during one of the class's weekly garden walks that a light bulb went off in his head and he thought, "I want to be a biologist."

Dr. Carlson's response was an important point that is often taken for granted when thinking about teacher-student relationships:

"You're not the only one who gets inspired. I get inspired. And I get energized. It sustains me, just to see how your wings are open and that you're flying in ways that put a fire in your belly."

And this can be true in all relationships, teacher-student, PI-grad student, boss-worker. As both a graduate student and graduate student instructor, I realize now more than ever just how much the students can influence the instructors--in energy, in confidence, in gratitude, and even in the perceived importance of the subject matter.

Ira Flatow's final comment? "Wow, I wish I had a professor like that."

If you'd like to hear more about "The man, the myth, the legend, Tom Carlson of UC-Berkeley" (in the words of Flora Lichtman), visit:

Teacher Feature radio clip

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