Congratulations to Professor Gregg Semenza of John Hopkins University who was one of three people to be awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in Stockholm yesterday.

The prize was awarded for his discovery of the HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1) protein which controls genes in response to changes in oxygen availability. This discovery is important to the understanding and treatment of low-oxygen health conditions such as coronary artery disease and tumour growth.  In the video below which was made a few years ago Professor Semenza talks about his discovery and emphasises very much the joy of scientific research.

Since the Nobel award  Professor Semenza has been keen to stress what he feels everyone should know about science. In an article published on The John Hopkins website last week he lists and discusses five key points:

• Many of the best discoveries are made by young scientists.
• Discoveries require perseverance and collaboration.
• The best research environments have mentorship and collegiality.
• To advance science, invest in early science education.
• Basic science research is good for the economy. 

The video and the article could provide a good starting point for IB teachers to introduce the Nature of Science.