Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
He shared the Nobel Prize for his work on the structure and function of the ribosome.
Most quoted
"We often think of science as a solitary pursuit, but in reality, it's a highly collaborative enterprise. My work would not have been possible without the contributions of many talented individuals."
— from Acceptance Speech
"Science is a human endeavor, and like all human endeavors, it's full of mistakes, biases, and sometimes even fraud. But it's also the best way we have of understanding the world."
— from Various interviews and lectures
"I think the idea that science is a purely objective, value-free enterprise is a myth. Scientists are human beings, and they bring their own biases and perspectives to their work."
— from Interview/Lecture
All quotes by Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (377)
The history of science is full of cases where a technical breakthrough opened up entire new fields of inquiry.
Curiosity is the engine that drives science forward.
It is important for scientists to communicate their work to the public, not as a duty, but as a pleasure.
The atomic details of the ribosome show how evolution has optimized a machine over billions of years.
In research, luck favors the prepared mind, but also the well-funded lab.
Scientific ethics are not an add-on; they are fundamental to the practice of science.
The joy of discovery is a powerful motivator, often more than any prize or recognition.
We have to be careful that the pressure to publish does not compromise the quality and integrity of science.
Seeing the atomic structure of something as complex as the ribosome was a humbling experience.
Science is a global conversation that has been going on for centuries.
The best ideas often come from unexpected places, so it pays to have a broad perspective.
A deep understanding of fundamental biology is critical for addressing challenges like antibiotic resistance.
The ribosome is a testament to the power of evolution to create machines of exquisite complexity from simple components.
Doing science is like being an explorer charting unknown territory.
The value of a scientific education is not just in learning facts, but in learning how to think critically.
Collaboration and competition are two sides of the same coin in advancing science.
At the end of the day, we are all just trying to read the book of nature, one chapter at a time.
Contemporaries of Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (1952).