From: nmodena@ncsu.edu (Stephen Modena)
Newsgroups: bionet.plants
Subject: Another kind of email received
Summary: someone understands what I'm up to
Date: 14 Sep 92 15:49:39 GMT
Organization: North Carolina State University Computing Center
Originator: nmodena@post.cc.ncsu.edu

>Subject: Thanks, and keep educating me!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>To: NMODENA@UNITY.NCSU.EDU
>X-Vms-To: IN%"nmodena@unity.ncsu.edu",HERSH
>Status: OR

The following arrived in my mailbox along with Ninja's "CONTAMINATING"
complaint. I've removed this person's ID, though I'd urge the person
to join in by posting to the bionet.plants list directly.

>Steve:
 
>I recently hopped on the plant-biology list, and just got a chance to catch up
>on the discussion of agro-economics/plant biotechnology.  I am one year into a
>postdoc in plant molecular virology, coming in with no real plant background
>(not even an undergrad botany course) and certainly no agricultural background.
>I chose a plant biology dostdoc for two reasons: 1) I saw no future in
>competing with M.D.'s for limited research dollars available for health-related
>research (the NIH IS, after all, run by M.D.'s), and 2) the philosophical
>belief that plant biotechnology may, IF EMPLOYED WISELY, help to feed the world
>and create a more environmentally benign form of agriculture.

Fortunately, we all more or less have the chance TO TAKE A CHANCE on what
professional vocation we'd prefer to follow.  Also, though there has
been some aggie prejudice about "non-farm" people in the agricultural
sciences, I am not myself from a farm background and see no reason why
I must have a "farm" background to work in an agriculturally-based 
profession. 
 
>I recognize the wide-eyed, altruistic nature of this second reason.  I also
>recognize that one generation's technological breakthrough unwittingly becomes
>the next generation's ecological nightmare.  In addition, most of us in
>university research environments, I fear, are cloistered from the real world
>concerns we tell ourselves that we are seeking to solve.  I unfortunately have
>little clue of (or hear many colleagues discussing) the economic ramifications
>of our goals, nor do I hear enough input from the potential "end users" of our
>technological advances.

"Altruism" is often a terrific motivating factor.  I'd prefer to work
with people who are *enthusiastic* about their chosen work....whatever
it is.  Over time, we all grow and gain perspective.  The advantage of
heterogeneity is that more than one point-of-view is in play.

Something that I've learned from the "farmers" I've meet here and before
is this:  often different people take different approaches to the "same"
situations or set of problems.  Looking at those who are successful in
managing their businesses, what can I learn from this variety of
approaches?  Well, the first thing I learned is, that they are all
correct, all experts.  That means that there really is more than one
successful approach to problem solving!  Second, the one common trait
shared among successful ag producers/managers is that they are good
thinkers!  Yes, they may each capture the problem at-hand in a unique
or personalized conceptual framework.  But each is successful at
manipulating *ideas* and *concepts* in very sophisticated ways.  This
is the real key!
 
>Having said all that, I just wanted to say "thanks" for your contributions to
>this discussion, and I hope that all of us can use the plant-biology forum not
>just to swap technical jibberish but as a conduit between ag-economist and
>research scientist.  I'm not entirely sure where my research career will lead,
>but I hope that I will be able to work on PRACTICAL solutions.
 
>I look forward to hearing more from you on the list.
 
Thank you for the encouragement. 

Steve
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|     In person:  Steve Modena     AB4EL                           |
|     On phone:   (919) 515-5328                                   |
|     At e-mail:  nmodena@unity.ncsu.edu                           | 
|                 samodena@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu                |
|                 [ either email address is read each day ]        |
|     By snail:   Crop Sci Dept, Box 7620, NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695 |
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