Cool story...
Those of you that have read The Ice Ark will recognize the name "Benirschke." Dr. Kurt Benirschke is the scientist who in the 1970s began freezing tissue samples from as many animal species as possible. At the time, he had no idea how the frozen cells could be used, but he had the foresight to do it anyway. Today, those cells that Dr. Benirschke saved are a source for great scientific discovery, including the possibility to restore endangered species. When I first read about Dr. Benirschke's work, I had no idea how to pronounce his name. I just called him "Dr. Kurt." My dad told me that he thought it was "Ben-URSH-kuh" because it was the same name of a former all-pro San Diego Chargers football player that he remembered from the late 1970s and early '80s. Recently I sent a copy of my book to the San Diego Zoo, and, to my surprise, I received an email from Rolf Benirschke, the former Chargers player, who just happens to be Dr. Kurt's son! Rolf asked to speak with me, and I was honored to do so by phone last month. It just so happens that Rolf has his own amazing story of surviving and overcoming. In 1978, following his rookie season with the Chargers, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory illness of the intestine. The following season, his condition worsened to a life threatening degree, requiring emergency surgery and a lengthy stay in the intensive care unit. When discharged from the hospital, he weighed 123 lbs! Despite this, he returned to the team in 1980 and played seven more seasons with the Chargers before retiring in 1987 as the team's all-time leading scorer. He was named "NFL Man of the Year" in 1983 and selected to the Pro Bowl. In 1997, Rolf was the twentieth player inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. Since retiring, Rolf has continued to be an inspiration. He published a book called Alive and Kicking, is the national spokesman for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (which my father, a GI doctor, loves), and is a frequent public speaker. He even was at one time the host for the daytime version of "Wheel of Fortune"! Maybe what I love most, as it relates to The Ice Ark, is that he has been active on behalf of endangered animals and even created the well known charity "Kicks for Critters." I really appreciate the chance to speak with Rolf and to learn more about him. It has helped make my work on The Ice Ark even more personal and meaningful for me. I look forward to hopefully working more closely with The Frozen Zoo and with Rolf in the future! Learn more about Rolf's great work at his website. Ian
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My name is Ian Noah Underwood, and I'm really excited about my new book and this website. Thanks for stopping by!
Before going any further, yes, "Noah" really is my middle name. Nobody calls me that (I just go by "Ian"), but, given the subject matter of my book along with the fact that there have been other authors named "Ian Underwood," it seemed appropriate to add the "Noah"! This little book is a couple of years in the making. I became interested in stem cells during ninth grade Biology class...the idea that one microscopic cell could have the capacity to change to become any of the many different cell types in our bodies was absolutely mind-blowing to me. Think about that for a moment. It struck me that if I could better understand how that process works, then I could come a whole lot closer to understanding how life itself works. I quickly found, however, that available information on stem cells was either way over my head--or not available at all. One of the few positives (if it can be called that) of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it caused an explosion of online resource availability. Courses and seminars that previously would have been out of reach became possible. I took courses on stem cell science offered through the American Museum of Natural History and Brown University. As valuable as these were, there are limits to what can be learned remotely. I've been incredibly fortunate during the pandemic to also have been able to receive "hands-on" experience in a Los Angeles stem cell lab in both the summers of 2020 and 2021. In one project, I was actually able to "reverse engineer" a human skin cell to a stem cell, and then watch it transform into a beating heart cell! Such human regenerative medicine implications--"creating" healthy cells to potentially replace injured or sick ones---are the source for tremendous excitement related to stem cells. It was after becoming a student member of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in 2020, however, that I was exposed to an even broader potential for stem cell science. I participated in an online seminar devoted to a subject which they had previously never discussed, global sustainability. Experts discussed how stem cells could be employed to produce food materials in the lab to feed a hungry world. They also touched on the potential for stem cell science to help increase the numbers of endangered species...or even to revive extinct ones from frozen tissue samples! This is where my idea for The Ice Ark was born. Another of the seemingly endless effects of the COVID pandemic is that it has put a spotlight on a perplexing and frustrating disconnect between the scientific community and the public. This is exhibited in other areas as well, including the global issue of climate change. Some of the problem seems to be the result of incomplete or inaccurate scientific messaging. However, fault also lies with the message recipients, noting those that hear with closed ears, see with closed eyes, and think with closed minds. Regardless of the reasons (there's certainly blame to share), it's clear that we need improved interpretation and communication of the innovation occurring around us every day. This recognition led me to enroll in a six-month mentorship program offered through Vanderbilt University called, "From Lab to Press Conference: How to Think, Write, and Communicate as a Scientist." After studying various examples of effective and ineffective scientific communication, I was encouraged by my mentor Dr. Loren Lapointe to pursue a project in my own area of interest. I opted to explore a role for cell biology to slow the accelerating rates of extinction on our planet, and I chose an audience whose minds should still be open to possibility--kids. I finished The Ice Ark during a school research externship class last semester. It's available for pre-order now from all major online booksellers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.), to be shipped beginning January 24, 2022. Due to printing costs, supply chain issues, etc., my publisher is insisting on a price that's a little higher than I would like, so I'll have limited quantities at a discounted price here on this website while supplies last. The Ice Ark is a picture book that compares the biblical tale of Noah to what's happening today. I think there's something here for all ages. ALL proceeds will go to the San Diego Zoo's "Frozen Zoo." Don't know what that is? You might just need to check out The Ice Ark! Ian |
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