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NSS News Volume II, Issue 1 Winter 2017 NSS News Volume II, Issue 1 Winter 2017 Winter Editor The research endeavor begins with existed – roughly three centuries before asking good questions. The more the origins of private property were tied ambitious the question, the grander the to the creation of the modern nation-sate thesis. In the case of Jeanette Graulau by the likes of Wallerstein, Smith, and – an Associate Professor of Political Marx. Graulau contends that silver mines Science – it would be impossible to were a capitalist endeavor as early as the th tackle a bigger inquiry than the very 12 century, and predated the “agrarian origins of capitalism itself. transformation” of Europe that most In her new book The Underground Marxist scholars believe led to the Wealth of Nations: On the Capitalist Origins modern capitalist system we have today. of Silver mining, 1150-1450, published by We wanted to learn more about Yale University Press and due out later Professor Graulau’s research in advance Marx argued that land improvements this year, Graulau seeks a new answer to of the publication of the book, its one of the oldest problems of social significance and impact, and how her of capital in the hands of a few, and the science: “how, where, and when did meticulous research was conducted. gradual impoverishment of people. My capitalism begin?” In positing her thesis, a NSS News: What got you interested in research engages with both arguments. It project Graulau expects will lead to at studying the political economy of silver mining addresses both sides of the argument of least two more volumes, the Lehman in such depth? land improvements, and attempts at professor may well take her place JG: Mining and what is known as the building a global survey of the history of alongside the biggest names in political question of land is one of the oldest, and I mining…[it] provides new evidence and economy such as Adam Smith, David must add fairly moderate themes in arguments for addressing this question, Ricardo, Thomas Malthus, Immanuel political economy. How do land and adds a time-scale new to political Wallerstein, and Karl Marx. improvements, in the form of agriculture, That may seem hyperbolic – but mining, grazing, pastures, etc., lead to framework. early critical assessments indicate wealth? This question was central to Graulau’s work is that important. Her Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, and central thesis in The Underground Wealth of relevant to the controversy between Nations is that silver mining in Europe Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo on and parts of Asia were a capitalist the meaning of land rent. Monopolies of enterprise long before “capitalism” ever agrarian land and land enclosures were also a serious concern to Marx. A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF PLANT Dean’s Message * Greetings! SCIENCE RESEARCH New technologies are redefining how plant biology will meet the demands of health, medicine, energy, and My colleagues and I are pleased to bring you up to speed on some of the agriculture. These innovations are described in a special more important activities and achievements in NSS thus far in this academic issue of Science (September 16, 2016) devoted to year. Perhaps the most important news in Lehman College is the arrival of Translational Plant Science. President José Luis Cruz from The article, “Plant metabolism, California State University at the diverse chemistry set of the Fullerton. We also welcome our future” by Dr. Eleanore T. new Interim Provost, Harriet Wurtzel (Lehman College “Niki” Fayne, who was known and The Graduate Center, The to us all as the Dean of the School City University of New York, of Education before this year. NY) and Dr. Toni M. Kutchan (Donald Danforth Center, Their appointments have signaled St. Louis, MO), is one of a collection of four articles a new direction and, I might add, highlighting a vision for the future of plant biology and its a truly optimistic and upbeat tenor potential impact on society. in Lehman College’s leadership. In their review, Drs. Wurtzel and Kutchan examine One of my highest priorities in technologies that are transforming the study of plant metabolism and how we can leverage the resulting NSS has been to actively reconnect knowledge to cultivate the plants and chemical- to our alumni, particularly in mentorship roles with our current students. I producing microbes of tomorrow. In particular, the am particularly grateful to Dr. Jeff Gilbert, Class of ’72, who has been authors detail the impact of rapid and inexpensive DNA absolutely instrumental in bringing his fellow alumni back to the campus. and RNA sequencing and of metabolite detection on the Jeff has also spearheaded our efforts to place our current students in Pre- discovery of biochemical pathways, which in turn inform Health/Pre-Med internships and look to ways to expand the resource base of the engineering of plants to improve nutrition and to the School. provide more plentiful and cheaper medicine. Fall 2016 also saw the historic presidential election unfold. NSS was at Dr. Wurtzel, whose own research seeks to alleviate the center of the campus’ effort to encourage civic engagement and civil vitamin A deficiency in the 250 million children debate around the election by co-hosting Presidential debate watch parties worldwide at increased risk of blindness and death, said, with other offices on campus. I am grateful to various student clubs and “The plant kingdom offers an untapped bounty of novel organizations across the campus that engaged the students, faculty and staff chemistry, enzymes and genes that are poised for in these community-building endeavors. I believe they played a crucial role discovery and application using advanced technologies. in paving the way for President Cruz’ Call to Action issued in the wake of Investment in plant science research and education, the election in December. involving interdisciplinary partnerships, will accelerate To paraphrase the old saying, despite the uncertainties and challenges scientific advances needed to transform the fields of we face as a community, I feel we are blessed to live in exciting times. You health and nutrition, bioenergy, and agriculture.” will read in the following pages the wonderful things the students and faculty Dr. Joseph Hirschberg (The Hebrew University of in NSS are doing, as we make good on President Cruz’ charge to “clarify our Jerusalem) said, “This is an important and authoritative identity as the most mission-critical college in the nation’s most important review on the potential of “specialized metabolism” (also urban serving institution.” referred to as “secondary metabolism”) of plants to So I take this opportunity to welcome our new faculty, staff, and benefit mankind. The authors are world-leading scientists students, and to thank all of those in NSS as well as throughout the College in the field who have made seminal discoveries in plant biochemistry. This review article will serve as a for educating and guiding Lehman students every day in their pursuit of benchmark and a road map for future research and better lives and excellence. I am grateful to the Chairs of the ten development in biotechnology, medicine and nutrition.” departments in NSS for their leadership and collegiality. As we happily Throughout history, humans have used plants for food, report in this Newsletter, some significant achievements have been attained. medicine, fuel, and materials for clothing, paper, and More are on the way. It is quite possible that we may have missed some shelter. Advances and investment in translational plant important stories, and if that’s the case please feel free to send me or science will ensure that we can further harness the Associate Dean Christopher Malone an email on anything you want to share. chemical wealth of the plant kingdom to help meet the We will be sure to include your story in a future Newsletter. needs of a growing world population. *Reprinted from the CUNY Research Newsletter, Volume 13, 2016-2017. Page 2 NSS Newsletter winter 2017 Bronx Native Violet Fredericks Joins NSS NSS Kicks off $5.7 million, 5-Year STEM Dean’s Office Staff Initiative In January 2017 NSS kicked off the first set of activities as part The NSS Dean’s Office officially welcomes Violet Fredericks to of the $5.7 million, 5-year grant awarded from the U.S. the family! Department of Education to Lehman College for its Pathways The Bronx native actually joined the Dean’s Office in to STEM Student Success (PTS3) project. The grant is awarded December 2015 as the Program Manager for the $734K CUNY through the Departments’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Strategic Investment Initiative Grant it received that year to STEM program. PTS3 joins Lehman’s efforts with CUNY’s two improve STEM education at Lehman College. The grant pursued Bronx-based community colleges—Bronx Community College four related goals: infrastructure upgrades in the classroom, and Hostos Community College. More than 60 Lehman and innovative instruction, interdisciplinary curriculum development, BCC students took part in what NSS termed “STEM Fridays” and expansion of experiential learning. during the winter intersession. Violet took the lead with Associate Dean Christopher The goal of the grant is to boost enrollment, retention, and Malone on all four elements of the grant – and then some. After graduation rates in the STEM disciplines at all three campuses, ingratiating herself to members of the Lehman community, at the same time seeks to align the colleges’ STEM curricula to Violet soon found herself playing roles provide for a frictionless transfer process from the 2-year in the grant she never thought possible, institutions to Lehman. Students meeting the criteria for including a stint as script writer and co- admission for the program will be accepted at all three producer of a set of videos NSS funded campuses; those completing the requirements of PTS3 from for the revamped Career Services BCC and HCC will be guaranteed admission to Lehman website.
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