Watson’s appearances are sponsored by the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. He will give his public talk 10 a.m.–11 a.m., Thursday, May 5, at the Brown Theater, 315 W. Broadway. Admission is free but advance reservations are required at 502-562-8021 or andrea.tankersley@louisville.edu.
Crick, Watson and Wilkins published their work showing the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) more than 50 years ago. Their 1953 discovery still stands as one of the world’s greatest scientific breakthroughs. By identifying what had been the elusive picture of DNA, they made it possible for future scientists to make great strides in understanding the human genome and the importance of DNA to life.
Between 1968 and 1993, Watson was director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York and was the driving force behind the conception and completion of the Human Genome Project. He was the first director of the National Center for Human Genome Research from 1989 to 1992.
“The University of Louisville is an exciting place to be these days. Dr. Watson will see and feel the energy we’re pouring into research and innovation, something a Nobel Prize winner understands and appreciates,” said UofL President James Ramsey. “At the same time, this is an uncommon opportunity for our students and our community to see and hear one of the greatest scientific pioneers of our time. The University of Louisville is proud to make this opportunity available.”
“We are very fortunate to have one of the world’s most revered scientists joining us for this occasion. Dr. Watson has inspired thousands of successful scientists and has had a huge impact on the development of science over the past 60 years,” said Donald Miller, director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center.
