Restoring The World One Grain At A Time
I had the pleasure of shooting Dr. Jorge Dubcovsky for HHMI bulletin at UC Davis.
He recently received the coveted Wolf Prize for his work in wheat genetics. The Wolf Prize is not something to be taken lightly. The Wolf Price is an international award presented only to the top living scientists and artists for “achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among people" (1).
As some may know, the composition of wheat has changed.
Centuries ago, ancient wheat grain was extremely beneficial to our diet because it had a rich source of protein, zinc, and iron. Through modern farming processes, we lost that gene to the wheat’s genome.
Through his and his team’s research he was able to identify and reinsert it.
He has also identified and modified genes that help sustain plant life in harsh environments and resist diseases. He hopes to increase wheat production throughout the world and improve the quality of our diet.
So what’s his backstory?
He received his bachelors in biological sciences from the University of Buenos Aires in 1984. After graduating, he taught middle school math and science in Argentina.
While teaching, he continued to take university-level courses to strengthen his understanding of the subjects. Though over time, he realized that while he loved teaching, he was fascinated by research.
He decided to take the plunge and went back to school for his doctorate degree in biological sciences. And as they say, the rest is history.
It’s a true honor to meet and add such an interesting and inspiring individual to my portraits.
portrait photographers california
Sources:
1. The Wolf Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://www.wolffund.org.il/index.php?language=eng>.