Richard Success at Young Age

The article of Richard and his friend was published in the scientific journal ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Science’. He was only 22 years old at that time. It was the first time that the research work of college students was published. It was a rare honour for Richard.

Richard A- Collector from Childhood

Richard was the only child of his parents. He grew up at reading in Pennsylvania USA. He had no one to play with. So, he started collecting things like rocks, fossils and coins. Gazing at stars and collecting butterflies where his hobbies.

Richard’s Mother- His Companion

Richard’s mother was constantly with him. She encouraged him by taking him on trips and bought him telescopes and other equipment. She found work to challenge him and helped him to learn a lot.

Richard Reads ‘The Travel of Monarch X’

The reading of a children’s book titled ‘The Travels of Monarch X’ inspired him. He became interested in the world of science. The book asked the readers to study butterfly migrations. Richard came in contact with the scientist doctor Urquhart through this book, who influenced him greatly.

Richard Raises Monarch Butterflies

Richard decided to raise butterflies at home to study their migration patterns. He could catch a female monarch and take her eggs. He would watch all the stages of development of the butterfly. Then he would take their wings and free them. He did it for many years and raised thousands of butterflies in the basement of his home.

Richard Enters County Science Fair

Richard displayed his slides of frogs at the country science fair, but he did not win any award. He realised that he needed to carry out real experiments to win an award. He took suggestions from Dr Urquhart. As a result of his many experiments, he won many prizes at the country and international science fairs in the following years.

Richard’s Eighth Grade Project

Richard tried to find the cause of viral fever that killed thousands of monarch butterflies. He thought that a beetle may carry the virus that causes viral fever. Although this was not the case, he still won a prize for his project.

Richard’s Win at County Science Fair

Richard experimented on viceroy butterflies. He tried to prove that viceroys copy monarchs. Viceroys do it to protect themselves from birds as birds don’t eat monarchs. The project won the first prize in the Zoology division and overall third prize in the country science fair.

Richard’s Discovery of a Hormone

Richard was curious to know that the reason behind 12 gold spots on a monarch pupa. He and his friends built a device to prove that the spots were producing a hormone necessary for its full development. The project got him first prize in the country fair. He also entered the International Science and Engineering Fair. He got first prize for zoology in this fair.

Richard Continues his Research on Monarch Pupa

Richard grew cells from the wings of a monarch butterfly. He further proved that cells grow in scales of wings only when they are injected with the hormone from the gold spots. He carried on his work at the Army laboratory and laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture. After his freshman year at Harvard, he returned to the laboratory of the Department of Agriculture to identify the chemical structure of hormone. This gave him a new idea about cell life.

Richard’s Study of Cell and DNA

Richard’s research on the hormone gave him an idea. He believed that his study could tell how cells read their DNA. He, along with his college roommate, James R Wong, worked on the idea. Then they wrote a paper explaining their theory.

Richard’s Glory at Harvard

Richard graduated with second position in a class of 1510 students. He became a graduate student researcher. He started experimenting to prove his new theory. His theory may create new ways to prevent some types of cancer and other diseases.

Richard- An All Rounder

Richard was not just a scientist. He was an all rounder. He was a good debater and a public speaker. He was also a photographer and an outdoors person. His social studies teacher praised him for his will to work hard, do his best and win.

Richard a True Scientist

Richard had all true qualities that made him a true scientist. He had curiosity and a first-rate mind. He wanted to win for the right reasons.