Senior 'Gems'

I was completing my New Year's desk cleaning and came across the commentary by Murray Saffran in the Sept. 30, 1996, issue of The Scientist ["Senior Scientists' Experience Can Offer A Valuable Resource To Today's Students," page 11]. I want to affirm Saffran's comments. Through the years, I have had the pleasure of working with senior scientists. I have always referred to these individuals as gems. I started my position at Southern Illinois University in September 1995 and, for the first time

Written byCarol Boushey
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I was completing my New Year's desk cleaning and came across the commentary by Murray Saffran in the Sept. 30, 1996, issue of The Scientist ["Senior Scientists' Experience Can Offer A Valuable Resource To Today's Students," page 11]. I want to affirm Saffran's comments.

Through the years, I have had the pleasure of working with senior scientists. I have always referred to these individuals as gems. I started my position at Southern Illinois University in September 1995 and, for the first time in my career, there is not a senior scientist among my program colleagues. Saffran's commentary really brought this home to me. I miss having a gem around. Luckily, with E-mail and meetings, I do stay in touch with these gems. Thank you for expressing the beauty of gems so well.

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