CRACRAFT, J.; American Museum of Natural History: Being good at science, biopolitics, and mentorship: How to become a Marvalee Wake and move mountains

Philosophers and historians of science have pondered the causal dynamics of scientific progress but much of that assessment relies on one’s idea of scientific progress. That can be measured in many ways, qualitatively by how new ideas change the way we pose scientific questions or solve them, quantitatively by the degree to which new ideas or methods are incorporated into others’ works, by the numbers of disciples one has and how they replicate and extend one’s ideas, attitudes, and vision, among other ways. Progress is also made by building the scientific endeavor, from research institutions, funding agencies, formal and informal teaching programs, local, national, and international organizations and collaborations. All of these efforts create a foundation for the growth of science. Some of us are good at one or two aspects of this but not others, and that is just fine. It all feeds into making science not only intellectually vibrant and makes the world a better place as well. Few scientists can do it all, however, or have the energy to even try. Marvalee Wake is one of those persons who does it all. The lessons she can teach are grounded in who she is and what she accomplishes. Her impact on the scientific lives of organismal biologists has been profound, well beyond her own research work. Her influence on those honored to work with her has been no less significant. Each of us, as students of science and biology, can look to her for inspiration and a way to move mountains.