Let’s talk science – it saves lives | Lorenz Adlung | TEDxUniHeidelberg

cancer it’s a very devastating disease

cancer it’s a very devastating disease millions and millions of deaths every

millions and millions of deaths every

millions and millions of deaths every year now this may sound absurd to you

year now this may sound absurd to you

year now this may sound absurd to you but I think I have an idea

but I think I have an idea

but I think I have an idea what we can do about it let’s talk

what we can do about it let’s talk

what we can do about it let’s talk science because as a matter of fact

science because as a matter of fact

science because as a matter of fact cancer is a complex disease in the last

cancer is a complex disease in the last

cancer is a complex disease in the last decades of the previous century we came

decades of the previous century we came

decades of the previous century we came to find that cancer is not a one gene

to find that cancer is not a one gene

to find that cancer is not a one gene one disease problem instead cancer is a

one disease problem instead cancer is a

one disease problem instead cancer is a network disease these networks do not

network disease these networks do not

network disease these networks do not only involve genes but also RNA proteins

only involve genes but also RNA proteins

only involve genes but also RNA proteins and metabolites and these network

and metabolites and these network

and metabolites and these network structures are highly dynamic in space

structures are highly dynamic in space

structures are highly dynamic in space and in time

and in time

and in time this means dissecting these networks to

this means dissecting these networks to

this means dissecting these networks to combat cancer requires experts from a

combat cancer requires experts from a

combat cancer requires experts from a broad variety of scientific disciplines

broad variety of scientific disciplines

broad variety of scientific disciplines ranging from biochemistry molecular

ranging from biochemistry molecular

ranging from biochemistry molecular biology and cell biology to biophysics

biology and cell biology to biophysics

biology and cell biology to biophysics mathematics computer science and

mathematics computer science and

mathematics computer science and medicine and all these experts they have

medicine and all these experts they have

medicine and all these experts they have to talk to their peers to stay on top of

to talk to their peers to stay on top of

to talk to their peers to stay on top of the current knowledge in their

the current knowledge in their

the current knowledge in their respective fields through the

respective fields through the

respective fields through the state-of-the-art in their field

state-of-the-art in their field

state-of-the-art in their field therefore for instance the biochemist

therefore for instance the biochemist

therefore for instance the biochemist biochemists they go to annual

biochemists they go to annual

biochemists they go to annual conferences and then they dig deeper

conferences and then they dig deeper

conferences and then they dig deeper into the mechanism into the mode of

into the mechanism into the mode of

into the mechanism into the mode of action of a single enzyme that might be

action of a single enzyme that might be

action of a single enzyme that might be encoded by an oncogene and they try to

encoded by an oncogene and they try to

encoded by an oncogene and they try to understand the structure to functional

understand the structure to functional

understand the structure to functional relationship of this very enzyme and

relationship of this very enzyme and

relationship of this very enzyme and don’t get me wrong this is all valid

don’t get me wrong this is all valid

don’t get me wrong this is all valid this is all variable but we cannot

this is all variable but we cannot

this is all variable but we cannot combat cancer by just studying a single

combat cancer by just studying a single

combat cancer by just studying a single enzyme in isolation

enzyme in isolation

enzyme in isolation instead of scrutinizing the individual

instead of scrutinizing the individual

instead of scrutinizing the individual dots we have to connect them now what’s

dots we have to connect them now what’s

dots we have to connect them now what’s absurd about all this scientists are not

absurd about all this scientists are not

absurd about all this scientists are not acknowledged for connecting the dots

acknowledged for connecting the dots

acknowledged for connecting the dots they are not acknowledged for mediating

they are not acknowledged for mediating

they are not acknowledged for mediating between the

between the

between the in fields of expertise but this is what

in fields of expertise but this is what

in fields of expertise but this is what is required in order to combat cancer

is required in order to combat cancer

is required in order to combat cancer you all know that there is the Nobel

you all know that there is the Nobel

you all know that there is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine for the

Prize in Physiology or medicine for the

Prize in Physiology or medicine for the very best biologists and on the other

very best biologists and on the other

very best biologists and on the other hand there’s the Fields Medal for the

hand there’s the Fields Medal for the

hand there’s the Fields Medal for the very best mathematician but there’s no

very best mathematician but there’s no

very best mathematician but there’s no prestigious award for truly

prestigious award for truly

prestigious award for truly interdisciplinary scientists for

interdisciplinary scientists for

interdisciplinary scientists for instance I am half biologist and half

instance I am half biologist and half

instance I am half biologist and half mathematician and even if I were the

mathematician and even if I were the

mathematician and even if I were the second-best biologist and the

second-best biologist and the

second-best biologist and the second-best mathematician at the same

second-best mathematician at the same

second-best mathematician at the same time which by the way I’m not but even

time which by the way I’m not but even

time which by the way I’m not but even if I were there is there would be no

if I were there is there would be no

if I were there is there would be no reward for me but we need to encourage

reward for me but we need to encourage

reward for me but we need to encourage scientists to talk science even beyond

scientists to talk science even beyond

scientists to talk science even beyond the borders of their scientific

the borders of their scientific

the borders of their scientific descriptions now the question is how do

descriptions now the question is how do

descriptions now the question is how do we achieve that

because we we need to do this for the

because we we need to do this for the sake of of scientific progress we need

sake of of scientific progress we need

sake of of scientific progress we need to do this to the benefit of cancer

to do this to the benefit of cancer

to do this to the benefit of cancer patients we need to talk science why to

patients we need to talk science why to

patients we need to talk science why to make people understand and this does not

make people understand and this does not

make people understand and this does not only apply to scientists this does apply

only apply to scientists this does apply

only apply to scientists this does apply to patients to the public to all people

to patients to the public to all people

to patients to the public to all people too to resolve their concerns to take

too to resolve their concerns to take

too to resolve their concerns to take away their fears and give them hope for

away their fears and give them hope for

away their fears and give them hope for an ultimate cure against cancer and

an ultimate cure against cancer and

an ultimate cure against cancer and ignorance alike so let me provide you

ignorance alike so let me provide you

ignorance alike so let me provide you with one example we were interested in a

with one example we were interested in a

with one example we were interested in a very fundamental process in our body

very fundamental process in our body

very fundamental process in our body called proliferation one cell becomes

called proliferation one cell becomes

called proliferation one cell becomes two in a certain time quite simple but

two in a certain time quite simple but

two in a certain time quite simple but as a matter of fact this process is

as a matter of fact this process is

as a matter of fact this process is deregulated in almost all types of

deregulated in almost all types of

deregulated in almost all types of cancer so we investigated these

cancer so we investigated these

cancer so we investigated these molecular neck networks that coordinate

molecular neck networks that coordinate

molecular neck networks that coordinate this process and among the principal

this process and among the principal

this process and among the principal investigators of this study there were a

investigators of this study there were a

investigators of this study there were a biochemist there were a biophysicist

biochemist there were a biophysicist

biochemist there were a biophysicist there was a computer scientist and it

there was a computer scientist and it

there was a computer scientist and it was a medical doctor

was a medical doctor

was a medical doctor and together we developed an approach

and together we developed an approach

and together we developed an approach that allows us to computationally

that allows us to computationally

that allows us to computationally predict and experimentally verify the

predict and experimentally verify the

predict and experimentally verify the combined effect of certain cancer drugs

combined effect of certain cancer drugs

combined effect of certain cancer drugs on the proliferation of different cell

on the proliferation of different cell

on the proliferation of different cell types and this may lay the foundation in

types and this may lay the foundation in

types and this may lay the foundation in the future for a personalized cancer

the future for a personalized cancer

the future for a personalized cancer therapy for computer based patient

therapy for computer based patient

therapy for computer based patient stratification but without a biochemist

stratification but without a biochemist

stratification but without a biochemist we would have never been able to measure

we would have never been able to measure

we would have never been able to measure the effect of these drugs on the cells

the effect of these drugs on the cells

the effect of these drugs on the cells without a biophysicist we would have

without a biophysicist we would have

without a biophysicist we would have never been able to set up a mathematical

never been able to set up a mathematical

never been able to set up a mathematical model describing this process without

model describing this process without

model describing this process without the computer scientist we would have

the computer scientist we would have

the computer scientist we would have never been able to implement this

never been able to implement this

never been able to implement this mathematical model into powerful

mathematical model into powerful

mathematical model into powerful algorithms to solve these equations and

algorithms to solve these equations and

algorithms to solve these equations and without a medical doctor we would never

without a medical doctor we would never

without a medical doctor we would never have had access to patient material to

have had access to patient material to

have had access to patient material to show that our findings are really

show that our findings are really

show that our findings are really relevant and clinically relevant so

relevant and clinically relevant so

relevant and clinically relevant so every single one of them every single

every single one of them every single

every single one of them every single scientific discipline was essential to

scientific discipline was essential to

scientific discipline was essential to the success of the story we needed the

the success of the story we needed the

the success of the story we needed the biochemist the biophysicist the computer

biochemist the biophysicist the computer

biochemist the biophysicist the computer scientist the medical doctor and last

scientist the medical doctor and last

scientist the medical doctor and last not least maybe most importantly the

not least maybe most importantly the

not least maybe most importantly the patient’s we needed to talk to each

patient’s we needed to talk to each

patient’s we needed to talk to each other we needed to talk science to

other we needed to talk science to

other we needed to talk science to convince us of the potential of this

convince us of the potential of this

convince us of the potential of this interdisciplinary approach we need to

interdisciplinary approach we need to

interdisciplinary approach we need to talk science with the patient’s in or

talk science with the patient’s in or

talk science with the patient’s in or because otherwise they would have never

because otherwise they would have never

because otherwise they would have never given their consent it would have never

given their consent it would have never

given their consent it would have never volunteered to donate their cells so

volunteered to donate their cells so

volunteered to donate their cells so that we can validate our findings so

that we can validate our findings so

that we can validate our findings so talking science was really the solution

talking science was really the solution

talking science was really the solution here talking science then seems really

here talking science then seems really

here talking science then seems really straightforward now so why don’t we just

straightforward now so why don’t we just

straightforward now so why don’t we just do it

do it

do it that’s absurd okay fair enough

that’s absurd okay fair enough

that’s absurd okay fair enough you may need some incentives so first

you may need some incentives so first

you may need some incentives so first incentive promote interdisciplinary

incentive promote interdisciplinary

incentive promote interdisciplinary research together with a friend of yours

research together with a friend of yours

research together with a friend of yours back here at Heidelberg University I

back here at Heidelberg University I

back here at Heidelberg University I co-founded a students ideas competition

co-founded a students ideas competition

co-founded a students ideas competition on synthetic and systems biology and

on synthetic and systems biology and

on synthetic and systems biology and students were only allowed to

students were only allowed to

students were only allowed to participate if they form

participate if they form

participate if they form interdisciplinary teams from different

interdisciplinary teams from different

interdisciplinary teams from different scientific backgrounds

scientific backgrounds

scientific backgrounds and then we applied that local biotech

and then we applied that local biotech

and then we applied that local biotech companies for prize money which enabled

companies for prize money which enabled

companies for prize money which enabled us to celebrate a huge award ceremony

us to celebrate a huge award ceremony

us to celebrate a huge award ceremony and they were really awarded for talking

and they were really awarded for talking

and they were really awarded for talking science in an interdisciplinary

science in an interdisciplinary

science in an interdisciplinary scientific team to drive these projects

scientific team to drive these projects

scientific team to drive these projects forward so that in the end all

forward so that in the end all

forward so that in the end all participants could really see talking

participants could really see talking

participants could really see talking science in an interdisciplinary team

science in an interdisciplinary team

science in an interdisciplinary team pays off

pays off

pays off second incentive teach high school

second incentive teach high school

second incentive teach high school students I am talking science with

students I am talking science with

students I am talking science with pupils I’m a scientific mentor and the

pupils I’m a scientific mentor and the

pupils I’m a scientific mentor and the supervisor of projects for the

supervisor of projects for the

supervisor of projects for the development of bio batteries or the

development of bio batteries or the

development of bio batteries or the development of cell culture software and

development of cell culture software and

development of cell culture software and all these projects are performed by high

all these projects are performed by high

all these projects are performed by high school students the curiosity and the

school students the curiosity and the

school students the curiosity and the commitment of these kids is truly

commitment of these kids is truly

commitment of these kids is truly amazing and the motivation for me to

amazing and the motivation for me to

amazing and the motivation for me to drive these projects forward and to

drive these projects forward and to

drive these projects forward and to steer these projects so it may sound

steer these projects so it may sound

steer these projects so it may sound absurd but my recommendation for you is

absurd but my recommendation for you is

absurd but my recommendation for you is go to your old schools talk to the

go to your old schools talk to the

go to your old schools talk to the pupils there listen to their ideas and

pupils there listen to their ideas and

pupils there listen to their ideas and give them some advice based on your own

give them some advice based on your own

give them some advice based on your own experience and see where this is gonna

experience and see where this is gonna

experience and see where this is gonna lead you I’m sure it’s gonna be an

lead you I’m sure it’s gonna be an

lead you I’m sure it’s gonna be an exciting journey certain centers create

exciting journey certain centers create

exciting journey certain centers create poetry nowadays there are so many ways

poetry nowadays there are so many ways

poetry nowadays there are so many ways to express yourself and to talk science

to express yourself and to talk science

to express yourself and to talk science you can write blogs and books in fact I

you can write blogs and books in fact I

you can write blogs and books in fact I gave workshops where I taught people

gave workshops where I taught people

gave workshops where I taught people some science related matters and then

some science related matters and then

some science related matters and then together with a friend we also taught

together with a friend we also taught

together with a friend we also taught them some writing skills and then over

them some writing skills and then over

them some writing skills and then over the course of a weekend we just wrote

the course of a weekend we just wrote

the course of a weekend we just wrote science inspired short stories and they

science inspired short stories and they

science inspired short stories and they were after all released in a precious

were after all released in a precious

were after all released in a precious little book so that everyone a broad

little book so that everyone a broad

little book so that everyone a broad readership gets gets access to

readership gets gets access to

readership gets gets access to scientific stories so we can talk

scientific stories so we can talk

scientific stories so we can talk science via these books and for this you

science via these books and for this you

science via these books and for this you don’t need big publishing companies in

don’t need big publishing companies in

don’t need big publishing companies in the era of self-publishing in the

the era of self-publishing in the

the era of self-publishing in the bookstores and ebooks you just can talk

bookstores and ebooks you just can talk

bookstores and ebooks you just can talk science similarly a few years back I

science similarly a few years back I

science similarly a few years back I started to take photographs in my lab

started to take photographs in my lab

started to take photographs in my lab from all these technical devices and

from all these technical devices and

from all these technical devices and inspired by those machines I started to

inspired by those machines I started to

inspired by those machines I started to write poems about them and I shared them

write poems about them and I shared them

write poems about them and I shared them along with the photographs on social

along with the photographs on social

along with the photographs on social media and what’s what may sound absurd

media and what’s what may sound absurd

media and what’s what may sound absurd to you poet

to you poet

to you poet as well as scientists must choose their

as well as scientists must choose their

as well as scientists must choose their words carefully we transfer a lot of

words carefully we transfer a lot of

words carefully we transfer a lot of meaning with our words but not only

meaning with our words but not only

meaning with our words but not only meaning also emotions and this is where

meaning also emotions and this is where

meaning also emotions and this is where people connect across borders and this

people connect across borders and this

people connect across borders and this also came to me with rap music I was

also came to me with rap music I was

also came to me with rap music I was always listening to rap music and rap

always listening to rap music and rap

always listening to rap music and rap does of course also transfer a decent

does of course also transfer a decent

does of course also transfer a decent vocabulary but also punchlines and and

vocabulary but also punchlines and and

vocabulary but also punchlines and and emotions and passion and this is really

emotions and passion and this is really

emotions and passion and this is really where people connect and ok this may

where people connect and ok this may

where people connect and ok this may sound now super absurd to you but I

sound now super absurd to you but I

sound now super absurd to you but I started to write rap songs on on my

started to write rap songs on on my

started to write rap songs on on my scientific projects and I incorporated

scientific projects and I incorporated

scientific projects and I incorporated these rap songs into short entertaining

these rap songs into short entertaining

these rap songs into short entertaining presentation where I explained my

presentation where I explained my

presentation where I explained my science to lay public and this is a

science to lay public and this is a

science to lay public and this is a format known as signed slam and the

format known as signed slam and the

format known as signed slam and the reaction of people to these kind of

reaction of people to these kind of

reaction of people to these kind of performances is just overwhelming

performances is just overwhelming

performances is just overwhelming a crowd full of people cheering for you

a crowd full of people cheering for you

a crowd full of people cheering for you for talking science is priceless so I

for talking science is priceless so I

for talking science is priceless so I mentioned this absurdity of the missing

mentioned this absurdity of the missing

mentioned this absurdity of the missing acknowledgement for scientists who are

acknowledgement for scientists who are

acknowledgement for scientists who are reaching out who are talking science

reaching out who are talking science

reaching out who are talking science beyond the borders of scientific fields

beyond the borders of scientific fields

beyond the borders of scientific fields but let me tell you from my own

but let me tell you from my own

but let me tell you from my own experience sharing what you are

experience sharing what you are

experience sharing what you are passionate about with others is

passionate about with others is

passionate about with others is extremely rewarding so after these shows

extremely rewarding so after these shows

extremely rewarding so after these shows people approached me and they say

people approached me and they say

people approached me and they say Lawrence this was completely unexpected

Lawrence this was completely unexpected

Lawrence this was completely unexpected I mean mathematics almost killed me in

I mean mathematics almost killed me in

I mean mathematics almost killed me in school and now use mathematics to kill

school and now use mathematics to kill

school and now use mathematics to kill cancer that’s amazing or they say

cancer that’s amazing or they say

cancer that’s amazing or they say Lawrence I will have a deeper look into

Lawrence I will have a deeper look into

Lawrence I will have a deeper look into your paper and this is truly amazing

your paper and this is truly amazing

your paper and this is truly amazing because the story I told you about we

because the story I told you about we

because the story I told you about we published this in a paper which is open

published this in a paper which is open

published this in a paper which is open access and it’s my firm belief that free

access and it’s my firm belief that free

access and it’s my firm belief that free thinkers and open minds require open

thinkers and open minds require open

thinkers and open minds require open science so that they can talk science

science so that they can talk science

science so that they can talk science and spread the word broadly and I think

and spread the word broadly and I think

and spread the word broadly and I think for this talking science is really the

for this talking science is really the

for this talking science is really the key talking science unlocks a world of

key talking science unlocks a world of

key talking science unlocks a world of committed scientists and citizens alike

committed scientists and citizens alike

committed scientists and citizens alike talking science is extremely rewarding

talking science is extremely rewarding

talking science is extremely rewarding as we share what we are passionate about

as we share what we are passionate about

as we share what we are passionate about with others and talking science spreads

with others and talking science spreads

with others and talking science spreads the word and the ideas of good

the word and the ideas of good

the word and the ideas of good scientific practice and

scientific practice and

scientific practice and successful scientific approaches in our

successful scientific approaches in our

successful scientific approaches in our case this was an interdisciplinary track

case this was an interdisciplinary track

case this was an interdisciplinary track that may lead us to the computation

that may lead us to the computation

that may lead us to the computation based patient stratification and

based patient stratification and

based patient stratification and personalized cancer therapy so let’s

personalized cancer therapy so let’s

personalized cancer therapy so let’s talk science it saves lives thank you

talk science it saves lives thank you

talk science it saves lives thank you [Applause]