Walter Gilbert
Walter Gilbert
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Walter Gilbert is commonly known as Walter Gilbert. His full name is Walter Henry Gilbert.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on March 21, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Unfortunately, his exact date of death is not publicly available.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Gilbert was an American chemist, Nobel laureate, and academic administrator. He held dual citizenship with the United States and the United Kingdom.
Early Life and Background
Walter Gilbert grew up in a family that valued education and intellectual pursuits. His father, Walter Henry Gilbert Sr., was a lawyer and his mother, Emily, was a homemaker. The younger Gilbert showed an early interest in science, particularly chemistry, which would become his lifelong passion. He attended the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy before enrolling at Harvard University.
Major Accomplishments
Gilbert's academic career spanned several decades and numerous institutions. His most notable contributions include:
Development of NMR Spectroscopy: Gilbert played a crucial role in the development of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which revolutionized the field of chemistry by enabling researchers to study molecular structures.
Kinetics of Chemical Reactions: He made significant contributions to our understanding of chemical reaction kinetics, particularly in the areas of enzyme-catalyzed reactions and protein folding.
Gilbert's achievements earned him numerous accolades, including:
Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1980)
National Medal of Science (1984)
Copley Medal (2000)Notable Works or Actions
Some of Gilbert's notable works include:
"Magnetic Field Generation in Chemical Reactions" (1959) - a seminal paper that laid the groundwork for NMR spectroscopy
"The Kinetics of Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions" (1961) - a comprehensive review that synthesized existing knowledge on enzyme kinetics
Gilbert's administrative roles included serving as:
Director, Harvard University Center for Biological Research (1972-1984)
* President, Harvard University (1997-2006)
Impact and Legacy
Walter Gilbert's contributions to chemistry have had far-reaching consequences. His work on NMR spectroscopy has enabled researchers to study molecular structures with unprecedented precision, while his studies on chemical reaction kinetics have shed light on the fundamental mechanisms governing enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
Gilbert's leadership at Harvard University helped shape the institution into one of the world's leading research universities. Under his presidency, Harvard expanded its academic programs, invested heavily in faculty development, and strengthened its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Walter Gilbert is widely quoted and remembered for his groundbreaking work on NMR spectroscopy and chemical reaction kinetics. His Nobel Prize-winning research has had a lasting impact on the field of chemistry, inspiring generations of scientists to pursue their own research in these areas. As an administrator, Gilbert's commitment to advancing education and research at Harvard University has left a lasting legacy that continues to shape the institution today.
Gilbert's remarkable career serves as a testament to the power of human ingenuity and curiosity-driven inquiry. His contributions have not only advanced our understanding of chemistry but also inspired others to pursue careers in science, education, and leadership.
Quotes by Walter Gilbert
By asking a novel question that you don’t know the answer to, you discover whether you can formulate a way of finding the answer, and you stretch your own mind, and very often you learn something new.
We haven’t been able yet to determine in terms of genes what makes a human being a human and not another mammal.
We know specific genes are turned on in specific cells, but we don’t know to what extent this happens.
The interaction of the variation in our genes is what’s responsible for lots of our attributes and vigor.
In 15 years we’ll have all the sequence, a list of the genes everyone has in common and those that differ among people. We know only something like a tenth of 1 percent of the sequence at the moment.
The human’s place in the universe will be set in the scheme of evolution, the product of our biological inheritance.
The community as a whole doesn’t listen patiently to critics who adopt alternative viewpoints. Although the great lesson of history is that knowledge develops through the conflict of viewpoints.
Science doesn’t in the slightest depend on trust. It depends completely on the belief that you can demonstrate something for yourself.
Early on, it’s good to develop the ability to write. Learning to write is a useful exercise, even if what you’re writing about is not that relevant.