Nobel Laureate Edmond Fischer to share love for science at WWU April 20

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Edmond Fischer will present “Why I Became a Biochemist” at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20 in Science Lecture 150 on the Western Washington University campus.

The presentation, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by Western’s College of Sciences and Technology and is part of its Leaders in Their Field Lecture Series.

Fischer, who, along with fellow researcher Ed Krebs, won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1992 for his research into reversible protein phosphorylation, will discuss his academic journey, beginning with how he fell in love with science and how his love of learning helped instill the necessary values of doubt and skepticism that were the cornerstones of the research methods.

“We are excited to be hosting a visitor of Professor Fischer’s stature,” said Arlan Norman, dean of Western’s College of Sciences and Technology. “To have a Nobel Laureate on campus to spend time with our students and faculty is an exceptional opportunity.”

Fischer studied at the University of Geneva during World War II, where he enjoyed organic chemistry and biology. He completed his doctorate in organic chemistry and came to the United States in 1950 for post-doctoral research. He was supposed to take up a position at Caltech, but was also offered a position at the University of Washington. Seattle reminded Fischer and his wife of his native Switzerland, so they chose to settle there, where Fischer is now a professor emeritus of Biochemistry.

For more information about Fischer’s presentation, contact Jennifer Mott at Western’s College of Sciences and Technology at (360) 650-2454.