The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) was officially named a Milestones in Microbiology site by ASM on 16 October 2015, in recognition of the many major accomplishments of UIUC microbiologists whose seminal discoveries significantly increased biological understanding, advanced the science of microbiology, and continue to impact the discipline.
Among those cited for special recognition were Thomas J. Burrill (1839 -1916), who founded the science of bacterial plant pathology with his studies of Erwinia amylovora as the cause of disease in plants; Abigail A. Salyers (1942- 2013), the first female tenured professor in microbiology at UIUC, who pioneered studies of Bacteroide, a major intestinal bacterium responsible for breaking down fibrous materials, and whose research enhanced understanding of antibiotic resistance among gut bacteria; Carl R. Woese (1928-2012), who discovered the Archaea, a new domain of life distinct from Bacteria and Eukarya, and whose techniques to study the phylogenetic taxonomy among organisms based on comparison of 16S ribosomal RNA sequences revolutionized the fields of microbiology and evolution; Sol Spiegelman (1914-1983), who initiated the study of RNA and the mechanisms of viral replication; Nobel Laureate Salvador E. Luria (1912-1991), who pioneered the study of the replication mechanisms and genetic structure of viruses; Irwin C. "Gunny" Gunsalus (1912- 2008), recognized for his seminal studies in microbial biochemistry, including discovery of the active form of vitamin 86, and a genetic-based understanding of pseudomonads' complex metabolic pathway to degrade steroid-like terpenes; Marvin P. Bryant (1925-2000), who made fundamental contributions to rumen bacteriology, cellulolysis, and fermentation processes; and Ralph S. Wolfe (1921- ), who developed the first archaeal cell-free extract system for methane production, discovering new coenzymes in methane formation, and also played a leading role in establishing and developing the Woods Hole Microbial Ecology Course.
The Milestones designation also acknowledges contributions UIUC has made to ASM (formerly SAB, Society of American Bacteriologists). As of 2015, six UIUC scientists have served as ASM (or SAB) Presidents: Thomas J. Burrill (1916), H. Orin Halvorson (1955), Abigail A. Salyers (2002), all of whom served while at UIUC, and Salvador E. Luria (1968), L. Leon Campbell (1974), and Stanley R. Maloy (2006), who served after they left UIUC. In addition, the first ASM journal, the Journal of Bacteriology, and the establishment of local Branches were initially proposed at the 1915 SAB Meeting hosted by the University. The first volume of Journal of Bacteriology was subsequently published in 1916. The Bacteriology Club at Urbana became the first local Branch of SAB (1917).
The Milestones Ceremony
To commemorate the Milestones designation, the UIUC Department of Microbiology hosted a ceremony during which representatives of various departments and schools in the university offered their perspectives on the Milestones award. Stanley Maloy, Past President of ASM and former UIUC Department of Microbiology Professor, presented the Milestones plaque to Interim Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Edward Feser and Microbiology Alumni Professor and Head of Microbiology John E. Cronan, who accepted the plaque on behalf of the University. Maloy remarked, "This is truly a wonderful, magical place because of the people here. We're recognizing some people here whose names are everywhere in microbiology. You can't miss those names because of their impact. But the culture of microbiology here at UIUC is that everyone works together and moves forward."
The ceremony was well attended by faculty, emeritus faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, ASM guests, university administrators, and the mayors of neighboring towns Urbana and Champaign-Laurel Prussing and Deborah Feinen, respectively. Also in attendance was Ralph Wolfe, one of the scientists cited on the Milestones plaque, who commented prior to the ceremony, "I am honored to be recognized by this award, but scientific visibility and stature are due largely to the fact that science rides on the backs of graduate and postdoctoral students as they drag their professor into unknown areas. I therefore thank all the students who have passed through my lab over the years, contributing to this Milestone site."
The Milestones plaque will be prominently displayed in the lobby of the Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory Building, allowing for broad public exposure. Plans are being made to add other historical displays near the plaque.
On the day following the Milestones ceremony, it was "back to business" with the Department's Annual Microbiology Research Conference, featuring presentations, posters, impromptu talks, trivia contests (in which the students roundly defeated "elder" faculty), and dynamic exchange, thus continuing the tradition of scientific excellence at UIUC. For more information on the Milestones in Microbiology Program, see www.asm.org/milestones-in-microbiology.
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign-Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
The Milestones in Microbiology program recognizes seminal accomplishments in microbiology, accomplishments that significantly increased biological understanding and advanced the field of microbiology, and often science and society as a whole. In October 2015, a Milestones in Microbiology designation was presented to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). This designation recognizes the contributions of many outstanding microbiologists for over a century.
UIUC has played a central role ASM since its founding. The Journal of Bacteriology and the establishment of local Branches were first proposed at the 1915 meeting of the Society of Bacteriology (as ASM was then known) at UIUC. And the first local Branch of the Society was established at UIUC in 1917. However, this award is not simply about events, but the people who catalyzed the science. The Milestones plaque specifically cites the contributions of eight UIUC scientists who left an indelible mark on our field.
When referring to regrettable events it is often said that "people who don't understand history are destined to repeat it," but the opposite is also true-understanding how an institution became successful can provide a useful model for emulation. Milestones in Microbiology recognizes historical accomplishments, but microbiology at UIUC is not simply "past-tense" -microbiologists at UIUC continue to maintain the tradition of transformative research.
Although their names do not appear on the plaque, the true sign of the impact of an academic institution on the future is the success of the students who have been trained there. Faculty and students have an invaluable mutualistic relationship-as Ralph Wolfe says, "Success of professors depends upon their graduate students." Many of the students trained at UIUC have gone on to become leaders in academia and industry.
The strength of any great department is the people, but despite what some might say, it is more than simply a matter of hiring the rightAnd the first local Branch of the Society was established at UIUC in 1917. However, this award is not simply about events, but the people who catalyzed the science. The Milestones plaque specifically cites the contributions of eight UIUC scientists who left an indelible mark on our field.
When referring to regrettable events it is often said that "people who don't understand history are destined to repeat it," but the opposite is also true-understanding how an institution became successful can provide a useful model for emulation. Milestones in Microbiology recognizes historical accomplishments, but microbiology at UIUC is not simply "past-tense" -microbiologists at UIUC continue to maintain the tradition of transformative research.
The strength of any great department is the people, but despite what some might say, it is more than simply a matter of hiring the right people. It is also about institutional culture. For many decades, microbiologists at UIUC have fostered an atmosphere of collaboration, cooperation, and camaraderie among the faculty, research students, and staff. This closeness and mutual respect allows the open discussion of scientific disagreements and honest criticism of each other's work without disrupting effective interpersonal interactions. This has led to an interactive environment that promotes critical thinking and drives everyone to think broadly. I know this personally because I had the tremendous pleasure of working in Microbiology at UIUC from 1984 until 2002, where I was immersed in the department history-often via stories told by Ralph Wolfe over faculty lunches-a tradition that provides a weekly forum for informal discussions.
In short, this Milestones in Microbiology designation not only reflects the impressive scientists that contributed to microbiology at UIUC, but also the current and future contributions of this microbiology icon.
Article courtesy of American Society for Microbiology. Written by Stan Malloy, originally published inthe March 2016 issue of Microbe.