Page 18 - Abacoa Community News - February '22

Page 18, Abacoa

FAU Features from page 16 Answer: I’m vice chairman of the Board of Trustees is a neuroscience hub, and the new institute can support the
for the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium in research endeavors that Randy Blakley, Ph.D., executive
The team is targeting near-total disassembly of the protein – West Palm Beach. Our foundation was a major sponsor director of the newly christened institute, wants to undertake.
more than enough to render it inactive. Fields’ laboratory uses a of a permanent exhibit called the “Journey Through the Question: What do you hope, aside from supporting
combination of analytical techniques, such as mass spectrometry Human Brain” and collaborated closely with Randy during research and education, comes from this gift?
and liquid chromatography, to look at how much of the protein its development. I got to know Randy over that period of Answer: I’m hoping that this might inspire others to
sample has broken down. So far, he has tested the protein time along with his ASCEND program. Our foundation do likewise, to think about giving back, and giving back to
treated at 350- and 450-degrees Celsius (662- and 842-degrees subsequently initiated support for the ASCEND program education and back to science.
Fahrenheit). as it was a STEM neuroscience outreach program to
“We tested the bovine serum albumin at 350 degrees, which elementary, middle and high school students to show them Student Spotlight: Vivek
does a pretty good job of breaking down the protein, but it doesn’t the wonders of the discoveries in neuroscience. For 28
break it up all the way,” said Fields. “Higher temperatures of 400 years, I have been very supportive of public education and Sreejithkumar As Finalist In
or 500 degrees are likely better to break the proteins down into public higher education, especially in Florida.
the amino acid components, which are the building blocks of Kids may only be 25 percent of our population, but they Nationwide Science And Math
proteins.” are 100 percent of our future. Educating them is our best
Because the samples will not return to Earth earlier than 2031, investment, especially in science. Competition
Fields has time to continue experimenting in his laboratory. Question: Are there any people that played a part in this
“I don’t think that there are any dangerous microorganisms decision? By Bethany Alex
and proteins on Mars, but we still have to prepare and protect Answer: FAU has excellent leadership and that goes Vivek Sreejithkumar, a senior at FAU High School
against it,” said Fields. right up to the top. John Kelly, Ph.D., (FAU president) has – Jupiter Campus in Partnership with Max Planck
established these different focus areas, one of which is the
Inspirational Donor Gives $10 Brain Institute. In addition to outreach, the Jupiter campus FAU Features on page 19

Million Funding Neuroscience

By Bethany Augliere
For philanthropist and wealth
manager David J. S. Nicholson,
the brain is the most complicated
computer known to mankind. “It’s
one of the last unsolved frontiers of
science,” he said.
So, to support research efforts,
as well as educate the next generation
of neuroscientists, Nicholson gifted $10
million to FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter.
Inspired by the launch of Sputnik (world’s first artificial
satellite) in 1957, Nicholson knew from a young age he wanted
to be a part of the technological future. “I’ve always thought
that science is really the root word of, or you can call this the
stem of, all improvements in the quality of our lives,” he said.
He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Queen’s
University in Canada. He launched his own investment firm
in 1978 and the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation in 1992. “As
the mission of our foundation unfolded, and we grew, it
became apparent that there was a major crisis and shortfall
in education, as it related to the STEM fields and science in
particular.”
His $9.22 million gift supports the new neuroscience
building currently under construction that will now be
named FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. His gift
also establishes the David J.S. Nicholson Distinguished
Professorship in Neuroscience in honor of Randy Blakely,
Ph.D., institute executive director, the David and Lynn
Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research and the
Stiles-Nicholson STEM Teacher Academy. In addition, his
gift established the Institute’s ASCEND (Advancing STEM
Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery)
program and provides for its ongoing funding, bringing the
total of Nicholson’s gift to $10 million.
“The gift allows for the creation of a world-class research
facility, one that will return on the investment made by David
Nicholson, FAU and the state of Florida manyfold in terms of
research success, recruitment of top faculty and trainees, as Home Away Home Away
well as new opportunities, through our community education Legend: Games Games Legend: Games Games
programs, to broaden awareness of the exciting brain research
being done right here in Palm Beach County,” Blakely said.
Here’s what Nicholson said about his donation to FAU: Spring Training is right
Question: Why were you inspired to donate to the FAU
neuroscience and ASCEND program, specifically?
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