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Nobel winner returning to CU

By Laura Snider, Daily Camera

Published April 2, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated April 2, 2008 at 7:15 a.m.

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Thomas Cech to teach upon his return in January.

Thomas Cech to teach upon his return in January.

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Nobel Prize winning chemist Thomas Cech said Tuesday that he will return full time to the University of Colorado, where he began his university career in 1978.

Cech left CU at the end of 1999 to become president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Maryland, but he always maintained a research group in Boulder.

"I've been running a small research group at a distance of 2,000 miles from the D.C. area," Cech said. "It has been pretty awkward and inefficient."

Cech said he looks forward to diving back into his research - which focuses on the biological chemistry of RNA and chromosomes - but he says he's equally excited about interacting with CU's larger biological organisms: the students.

"It's important that accomplished researchers get up in front of the classroom," said Cech, who plans to teach when he returns in January. "It helps to provide an insight into how science really works. It forces you to explain science in a simple and clear way."

Cech will be welcomed back to the campus with open arms.

"He's world-class," said Bruce Benson, newly appointed president of the CU system. "Tom Cech is going to add a lot to this school."

Cech was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1989 for his work showing that RNA in living cells not only directs heredity, but can also act as a catalyst. Three other CU professors have since won the Nobel - all of them in physics.

"We're tremendously excited to have professor Cech back," said Chancellor G.P. Peterson. "There can be no doubt about it - quality people help us attract, develop and retain other quality people. People want to be at a place where they can interact with other top scientists."

Cech will join three other researchers at CU as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator when he returns to CU. All of the investigators are paid by the institute.

Comments

  • April 2, 2008

    7:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DahmersCookbook writes:

    Dear Professor Cech,
    When I use the bathroom am I then A biological weapon?

  • April 2, 2008

    2:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    esarem writes:

    I hope his Nobel was earned for some sort of real accomplishment. The merit of the Nobels has been sevely tarnished by the AlGore stupidity.

  • April 2, 2008

    3:31 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    esarem,

    The Nobel prizes in science are still very legitimate awards. What tree-huggin' Al got was the Nobel Peace Prize. The peace prize is awarded by a totally different group (idiots?) and is awarded via the country of Norway. The science prizes are awarded in Sweden.

    Your confusion about the Nobel Prizes is common. Here is the link to the official Nobel Prize web site where they explain who awards what: http://nobelprize.org/prize_awarders/

    Scott

  • April 3, 2008

    10:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    astromandan writes:

    I have heard Professor Cech speak on genetics. He has a way of bringing the very complex down to a level that nearly everyone can understand. Having him in the classroom at CU will be great for the students there.