Dr. James D. Watson, co-recipient of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for the discovery that DNA takes the shape of a slightly twisted ladder called the double helix, spoke to the cell biology class of Dr. Werner Hoch, assistant professor of biology and biochemistry, earlier today.
Watson entertained a rapt audience, speaking directly to the students as he gave them college advice, which he referred to as “retrospective rules.”
Among these rules were the following: “Don’t be the brightest person in the room, or you won’t have anything to learn,” “Take courses even if they seem hard, because it’s better to get a B than to miss learning about something new,” “When you are studying, try to summarize information rather than getting caught up in all the details,” and “It pays to have a teacher who knows your face, someone who can be a mentor.”
The one-hour classroom lecture concluded with a question and answer session. Afterward, Watson graciously signed autographs and took photos with the students.
Watson will speak tonight at the University of Houston at 7 p.m. as part of the Farfel Distinguished Lecture Series. The event is free and open to the public, but requires a reservation.
