6th International Summer School
on
Biocomplexity from System to Gene


Student Speaker

Good evening, and welcome to the last night of the 6th Annual International Summer School on Biocomplexity from System to Gene. Today’s lectures and discussion panel marked the conclusion of five incredible days spent learning and teaching some of the most interesting topics in cutting-edge biocomplexity research against the backdrop of some of the most incredible geography at the edge of the Black Sea here in Kilyos, Turkey. Students and professors from around the world have had the opportunity to come together, exchange ideas, engage in (sometimes heated) intellectual debates, and develop a deeper understanding of this amazing and historical area of the world. What we all are taking away from this experience includes much more than photos, souvenirs, and a base tan. Each of us who have been lucky enough to attend this past week will also be bringing home a heightened sense of belonging to a global community of scientists and researchers and a deepened appreciation for the importance of interdisciplinarity and innovation within the sphere of biological research.

One of the most fascinating historical figures of all time, Winston Churchill, once stated that “out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge.” This idea resonates with the philosophy of our summer school, because as we listened to each professor’s presentation this week and struggled to absorb extremely complicated (and often unfamiliar) subject matter, a few central themes emerged that united seemingly disconnected research efforts. From Dr. Fenstermacher’s discussion of the aspects of genetic-based cystic fibrosis research to Dr. Yasemin Akay’s presentation about the search for an ETEC vaccine to Dr. Sloot’s discussion of the problems facing researchers attempting to find a global solution to the AIDS epidemic, we witnessed the value of collaboration and coordination amongst the numerous contributors tackling the experimentation, analysis, and implementation of scientific research. When learning about Dr. McWeeney’s efforts to eliminate “tunnel vision” within the field of systems biology or while listening to Dr. Akay discuss the exciting new advances in neural engineering, we learned that a key component of progress and advancement in research is embracing creative thinking and constant reevaluation and rejection (if necessary) of old paradigms within any scientific field.

Therefore, as Winston Churchill implied, we realize that out of a summer school on biocomplexity, perhaps the most important lessons that have emerged are really quite simple. I believe that the most valuable thing we have learned this week is neither the basis of Affymetrix gene chips nor the terminology that you use during modeling of networks, but it is instead the lesson on how to think about science and research in terms of the two themes just mentioned, and how to continue ahead down our individual paths with a commitment to improving and critically analyzing every step along the way. When you begin something, pause to plan. When you implement something, carefully examine your methods. When you analyze what you have found, look at it on many levels. And finally, when you have discovered something, doubt it. It is only by doing so that we, as a complex network of designers and investigators, can be absolutely certain that we’ve spent our entire lives contributing to the world around us with integrity and that what we do has meaning, and that we are indeed making progress.

To conclude, I would just like to voice what I’m sure is the opinion of every student here, and simply express my sincere appreciation for having been given this opportunity. The last five days have been an amazing experience – I got to see a part of the world I had no knowledge of; I got to meet incredible people; I got to try Turkish food and see ancient buildings; I got to spend entire meals discussing advances in biomedical research; and, more than anything, I got to soak up all of this knowledge and these ideas and questions that will make me better able to direct my own career in the future. So please join me in giving an enormous “thank you” to Dr. Akay because you have put so much work into this program, and without your passion and energy, this would never have been possible.
We would also like to thank Dr. Gulcur for his dedication, hard work, and contribution as the summer school's local area chair.
 Thank you all very much!!