“Science for Breakfast” provides food for the body and mind

Most of us would rather hit the snooze button and sleep in at 7 a.m. on a Wednesday. But the turnout for at UVU College of Science and Health’s third “Science for Breakfast” at Centre Stage on March 3 was surprisingly robust, thanks to the free food and stimulating lecture provided by the Student Center cafeteria and Professor Craig Thulin of the Science Department, respectively.

While early birds dined on bacon, eggs, sausage, hash browns and an assortment of pastries, Thulin laid out his argument for the usefulness of teaching basic science in a speech entitled “What are UVU Scientists Doing With Our Money and Our Children?” The speech recounted the experiences from Thulin’s career that taught him the essence of science, namely: process, curiosity and honesty. “If I catch their curiosity in general, it’s not hard to channel that curiosity in a specific direction, like doing research in the lab,” Thulin said of his approach to teaching students.

Using examples from his time spent working in biogenetics, specifically in research to determine the cause of preeclampsia which led to four new patents, Thulin explained the importance of passing on scientific knowledge through the ages. “We will reap the benefits of doing basic science and teaching basic science for an infinite future,” he said. “And if we don’t do basic science and don’t teach basic science, then we will be reaping the negative reward of that decision as well.”

Professor Sam Rushforth, dean of UVU’s Science department, introduced Thulin and helped plan the event. According to him, the success of these breakfasts is due to the diverse audience they draw, which includes students, faculty and members of the community, many of them “CEOs of various companies who are science-based in their interests.” Those who are looking forward to the next “Science for Breakfast” will have to wait until next semester. Although they’ve only been doing them for a year, based on the success of this one, there’s no reason the department would not continue.