Ben Barres: Gender Champion Marc Freeman Lauds the Neurobiologist’S Posthumously Published Memoir

COMMENT BOOKS & ARTS

MEMOIR Ben Barres: gender champion Marc Freeman lauds the neurobiologist’s posthumously published memoir.

n unstoppable force of nature, treat postdoctoral fellows should be required unfazed by headwinds, manag- reading for all academics. An appendix lists ing to will all of us onwards and his trainees, an impressive group including Aupwards: this was Ben Barres. A highly many leaders in their fields. These people influential neurobiologist and advocate were Barres’ family. for women in science, Barres lived an Barres was best known for his work ARCHIBALD TIMOTHY unusually interesting life. He was an openly on glial cells, and he describes his lab’s transgender faculty member at Stanford major scientific contributions, including University School of Medicine in Califor- his surprising discovery that these cells nia, and a pioneer in understanding the release factors that help make synaptic functions of glia — the most abundant and connections between neurons. Just as in mysterious cells in the brain. Whether by conversation, Barres’ enthusiasm for the design or accident, along the way he also science and the people doing it leaps out, became a hero for people from gender and and the details of many key discover- sexual minorities (LGBT+ people), and for ies come fast and furiously. Barres was a early-career scientists generally. leader in boosting the status of glia from In 2017, Barres died of cancer at the age boring support cells for neurons to essen- of 63. His posthumously published memoir, tial nervous-system cells that interact with The Autobiography of a Transgender Scien- neurons dynamically to help modulate tist, documents his remarkable life story. their growth, connectivity, function, plas- Born Barbara Barres in mid-1950s New ticity and health. His lab helped to launch Jersey, Barres was a precocious, science- a now-thriving field. loving child who relentlessly pursued It is touching to read Barres’ account of academic opportunities. But from an Neuroscientist Ben Barres died last year. the emotional pain he experienced because early age, he never felt comfortable being of his gender discordance. He grappled with treated as female. As he writes: “internally ‘Does gender matter?’ (B. Barres Nature this issue at a time when — just as some still I felt strongly that I was a boy. This was 442, 133–136; 2006), he helped to debunk do today — certain sectors of society strug- evident in everything about my behavior.” the idea of intrinsic gender differences in gled to talk about homosexuality, never Although educated and trained at a time scientific ability. Barres worked relentlessly mind issues of gender identity. Before he when sexism was rampant in schools and to improve the representation of women transitioned, he writes, there were moments academia, his talent, self-confidence and in all areas of science: as faculty members when he considered killing himself, a situ- drive propelled him swiftly upwards. He and conference or departmental seminar ation that is alarmingly common among entered top-notch medical and science presenters, and in leadership positions. To people with gender dysphoria. He felt he training programmes, from undergradu- support that aim, he volunteered for count- was faced with the choice of his career or his ate study at the Massachusetts Institute less selection committees, editorial boards personal happiness. of Technology in Cambridge to a medical and grant-reviewing panels, and spoke up. Science is hard enough to begin with; I degree at Dartmouth College in Hanover, He would be combative if needed — and can’t imagine also having these sorts of life New Hampshire, a doctorate at Harvard that was fun to watch. The effect he had was pressures. Fortunately, he had wonderfully University in Cambridge and a post impressive and inspiring. supportive colleagues and friends across doctoral position at University College More recently, Barres became a vocal the scientific community. Because of his London (see A. D. Huberman 553, 282; advocate for trainees. He describes in glow- own past pain, Barres felt he owed it to 2018). ing terms how grateful he was to his own the LGBT+ community to discuss his life Barres admits that during his academic mentors — David Corey and Linda Chun openly and emphasize how transitioning career as Barbara, especially early on, he did at Harvard, and Martin Raff at University had brought him relief and happiness. not even consider the idea that gender would College London Barres is as open in memoir as he was be used to assess anyone’s qualifications or — and the power- in life, and the book teaches important, limit their opportunities. When a profes- ful impact of their deceptively simple lessons. Be yourself; be sor accused Barres of enlisting a boyfriend approach to science happy; don’t apologize for who you are. Be to complete a difficult problem (because he on his professional respectful, but be honest and express your assumed a woman couldn’t have done it), growth. He describes opinion even (or especially) if it’s not popu- Barres was incensed — but mainly about the his joy in mentoring lar. Science is exhilarating, and we have a accusation of cheating. After he transitioned young scientists, and responsibility to do it well, with fairness in 1997 and began to live as a man, he came the thrill of watching to all involved. The Autobiography of a to understand this and other episodes as them succeed; he saw Transgender Scientist shows the way. ■ personal experiences of pervasive sexism. The Autobiography mentoring as a sacred An advocate was born. of a Transgender duty. His reflections Marc Freeman is a neuroscientist and Barres’ promotion of women in science Scientist on the importance of director of the Vollum Institute at Oregon is well known, and he recounts some of his BEN BARRES picking a good men- Health and Science University in Portland. efforts in the book. In an essay in Nature, MIT Press (2018) tor and how we should e-mail: [email protected]