2014 U-M SPH Symposium, Part 4: Edwin Fisher, Ph.D.
Second Keynote: What #39;s a Behavioral Scientist Doing in Diabetes? Noreen Clark, the Coming of Age of Behavioral Science in Chronic Disease Management, and the...

By: UM School of Public Health

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2014 U-M SPH Symposium, Part 4: Edwin Fisher, Ph.D. - Video

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Jerrold Meinwald, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, has received the National Medal of Science in chemistry.

Jerrold Meinwald, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, has received the National Medal of Science, the nations highest honor for achievement in science and engineering. Meinwald received the medal in chemistry; other awards were bestowed in behavioral and social sciences, biology, engineering, mathematics and physical sciences, the White House announced Oct. 3.

Over his long career, Meinwald, who joined Cornells faculty in 1952 as an instructor in chemistry, has made fundamental discoveries of how chemicals act as repellants and attractants between organisms. He and the late Thomas Eisner, a longtime friend and colleague who won the National Medal of Science in 1994, are credited with establishing the field of chemical ecology the science that deals with the many ways animals, plants and microorganisms chemically interact.

Its a very nice thing, Meinwald said of the award. Its maybe a representation of a growing interest in the field of chemical ecology.

Meinwalds research has involved the isolation and identification of biologically active compounds from insect and other arthropod sources; pheromone systems of some amphibian and mammal species; and identification of messenger molecules involved in such systems and the understanding of underlying signal transduction pathways.

Meinwald has helped decipher the intricate chemical strategies that insects use for a variety of activities: mating, location of food, protection of offspring and defense against attackers. Throughout his decades-long scientific partnership with Eisner, Eisner, a biologist, conducted most of the biological experiments, while Meinwald and his research group of undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs provided the essential chemical expertise.

Chemicals of unforeseen potential have been among Meinwalds findings over the years. He helped discover that birds and spiders reject fireflies because of lucibufagins, a family of steroids, which Meinwald isolated for the first time. These compounds have proved to have cardiotonic and antiviral effects, with potential therapeutic value for humans.

Meinwald began his career as a conventional organic chemist, he said, but moved on to do collaborative chemistry with Eisner. Meinwald is an active advocate for chemists who seek scientific partnerships outside of chemistry, whether in biology, physics or other fields.

My own award represents a career built in large part on collaboration, he said.

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Jerrold Meinwald wins National Medal of Science

Everyone's looking for that elusive happiness, but science has got it figured out.

Are you happy? Many people struggle to answer that question. Everyones ultimate goal is to be happy, and they usually search for that elusive happiness in their own way. Some dig around for gold, believing that riches will plant a permanent smile on their faces. Others collect friendships, relishing in the constant activity of a vast social network.

Whatever your method, in the end we are all yearning for that feeling of happiness, of ultimate contentment. There are of course, many ways to attain it. Happiness is a very personal matter, but there are scientifically-proven ways to make yourself and your body feel better. Do yourself some good and try them out:

1. Create something, anything

We are becoming a society of purely consumers. From the moment we open our eyes, we turn on our phones to read (and consume) what others have produced, then we go to work, listening to music that have also been penned down by others. We watch charity videos and contribute by sharing a link on our page, not thinking to do anything else. Its an easy life. Convenient, entertaining, effortless. But there are also plenty of moments of emptiness, of feeling like you havent done anything of consequence.

The science

See, the reason we sometimes feel restless is because humans thrive on achievements. A study published in 2009 showed that mastering a skill may stress us out in the moment, but eventually gets us to a happier place.

Get happy

You dont have to create anything major, or bring peace to the universe. Start small, perhaps instead of buying herbs at the supermarket, start your own herb garden. Instead of just reading blogs, pen down some of your thoughts. Learn to paint and come up with your own masterpieces. Arrange for an outing instead of always waiting on your friends. The possibilities to create are endless!

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8 Science-Backed Ways to Find Happiness