University of North Texas

Geneticist and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Michael S. Brown, above, says hard work, curiosity and passion were key ingredients to his earning the prestigious award.

In a speech March 23 at the Gateway Center, Brown laid out nine simple steps to earning a Nobel Prize. He emphasized that a Nobel Prize is earned and not simply won.

“Sometimes I discourage students when I tell them how hard [scientists] work,” said Brown. “If you’re going to do something important in science, there has to be a time when you just can’t think of anything else except the scientific problem you are working on.”

Around 450 people attended the speech, with Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science students constituting the majority of the crowd. Brown told the TAMS students that studying math and science is of the utmost importance for the well-being of the country and the world.

“We’re in a very competitive world, and if we don’t produce the scientists, engineers and the mathematicians that will solve the many problems that we have in front of us, we’re going to fall behind and someone else will solve those problems,” said Brown. “You [students] have an obligation to use your brains and do something serious that will help the world.”

Brown and his colleague, Joseph L. Goldstein, discovered low density lipoprotein receptors, which control the level of cholesterol in blood and cells. This discovery led to the creation of drugs called statins. Statins, such as Lipitor and Crestor, lower blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks. These drugs are used by more than 20 million people.

Brown and Goldstein were awarded the 1985 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine and the 1988 U.S. National Medal of Science for their research. Brown has served as an intern and resident at the Massachusetts General Hospital and as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health. He is now the Paul J. Thomas Professor of Molecular Genetics and Director of the Jonsson Center for Molecular Genetics at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

At the speech, President Neal Smatresk, right, presented Brown with a UNT Presidential Citation for his “professional achievements” and for “supporting educational excellence among future generations of students and scientists.”

Vishnu Dantu, a second year TAMS student who recently won a 2015 Goldwater Scholarship, invited Brown to speak at UNT. Dantu said he did not know Brown previously, but Brown is a hero of his.

“[Brown] is one of the greatest scientists in Dallas,” said Dantu. “I invited him because I thought it would be a great opportunity for TAMS students, who focus on math and science, to hear from such an accomplished scientist.”

Dantu’s request of Brown’s visit was approved by the Dean of TAMS, Glênisson de Oliveira. de Oliveira said that he was proud to have students who want to provide a service not only to themselves, but to the entire UNT community.

“Our students have a lot of initiative,” said de Oliveira. “When they have ideas like this, we like to let them take off.”

De Oliveira said that Brown’s speech helped give students the inspiration to accomplish their goals and the motivation to do what it takes to succeed.

Due to the inspirational and motivational value of Brown’s speech, de Oliveira said that he hopes to have other speakers present before the UNT community on a more consistent basis.

—Caleb Downs, student assistant, University Relations, Communications and Marketing

(Photos by Ahna Hubnik / URCM)