We met Dr. Katalin Karikó
On 5 June we had the great fortune to meet Dr Katalin Karikó, undoubtedly one of the most famous Hungarians alive today, at the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The programme we had the opportunity to attend was the opening of an exhibition of Dr. Katalin Karikó’s awards, entitled “From the Lasker Prize and beyond”. More than 50 science-related honours among the more than 100 awards of the research professor of the University of Szeged are presented in press and art photographs. We were able to admire the Professor’s awards so far, sometimes only in photographs, but also quite a few awards in real life, which are true works of art. There were also many treasures to be seen, as in addition to handwritten notes, there were also plants, cells and other science drawings that the professor had drawn in biology lessons when she was a young student.
We were able to listen to an informal conversation between Dr. Katalin Karikó and a fellow scientist she knew from her youth, János Géczi, which was not so much a professional conversation as a good-humoured chat about the professor’s career so far. We learnt that for many decades she used to wake up at 6 a.m. and run 5-6 kilometres along the Rhine when she lived in Germany. And she worked a lot, there were periods when she was working day and night, weekends and holidays were not even taken into account, she was so focused on her research. The task, the goal, was always in front of his eyes, he was a very dedicated and committed scientist. He sees a lot of airports nowadays, since the epidemic has really put him in the spotlight, there is not a week that goes by that he doesn’t travel. Sometimes for a conference, sometimes for an honorary doctorate, sometimes to receive an award and sometimes to give a lecture.
“This meeting was incredibly important for the members of the Jászság 3 group working on the Water Analysis project, as they have been conducting their research with the support of Dr. Katalin Karikó for more than a year, for which they are very grateful. The personal meeting with the professor made them even more motivated. In her person, we have met a role model, a role model worthy of emulation. She works with infinite humility, determination and gratitude. For Nóri Pintér, this encounter was a great inspiration and confirmation of her future career choice. Thank you for allowing us to come and meet our sponsor Dr. Katalin Karikó in person.” Vig Dávid Jászság Group 3
“This day has also come. Not many people in our country can say that they have met such a famous person as Dr. Katalin Karikó. Last year, we could only participate in nature study projects with her name on them, including birdwatching at the Ötös-Hárs Reservoir and various nature photography projects, which paid tribute to her person, her work, her significant awards and her research, and today, 2023. On June 5, 2023, we had the opportunity to attend an informal talk at the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, hosted by his former university, the University of Szeged. Not only our group, Nagybajomi 3mas, was welcomed, but also members of the other two community centres participating in the project. So we could meet the people from Jászberény, and the people from Szeged were also represented by Aunt Piroska. We were able to learn many behind-the-scenes secrets about RNS, but the professor also told us about her youthful plans and her ongoing trials and tribulations. She told us many interesting facts about her profession, and we learned a lot from just one session. Of course, it wasn’t only the lecture that we enjoyed during the day, our small group’s trip to Pest was also a great experience. On the way home, we discussed what everyone had enjoyed and what new information the children had gained. By around 11pm, everyone was back home and the children could go to bed with these new experiences and start the next week.” Zalán Győző Group 3 Nagybajom
“It was a great experience to see and hear him live. During the conversation before the opening of the exhibition, Katalin’s naturally simple, sometimes humorous answers, drawn from her life experience, offered advice that would be useful to adults and children alike. They are also messages. For example. For our health, let’s create our homeostasis (a state of balance), our body strives for it, but let’s help it. Let’s close the problem, say with an apology, and stop dealing with it. The scientist, the researcher, does not work for the prize, but is happy to be recognised for his work, and shows his respect by accepting it. This afternoon, this meeting with a humble man of great knowledge, who kindly agreed to take photos with everyone, cannot be fully captured in a short piece of writing, it had to be lived. I think we will recall this day many times over the years. Over the past two years, we have talked about Professor Mme. After all, it was with her support that we investigated the waters of the Zagyva River and perhaps succeeded in starting an environmentally conscious process. We thank her for her support.” Terézia Csörgő volunteer.