A time to help

As we head into Labor Day weekend here in Washington, the weather, as
if by some unseen clockwork, has taken a certain crispness and the sky a
much deeper shade of blue. For me it can’t help but remind me of that
Tuesday four years ago, when I woke up to such weather and went to
sleep in a much changed America. This weekend, we find ourselves as a
country similarly challenged: the flooding and despair from New
Orleans, particularly outside the Convention Center where many of us
have spent so much time, provokes among all of us in science a deep
seated need to do something useful, to be of help to others.

I have heard many stories of colleagues at Tulane and LSU medical
center–of experiments lost, of being trapped in labs, of homes lost
and friends also. While these are just a small vignette of the
suffering that is occurring on a much larger scale, it also brings the
pain closer to home. Imagine the Krasnow community in similar
circumstances….

I am particularly grateful for those who have joined with me in our own
Krasnow Red Cross Drive. And I salute the Krasnow support staff,
particularly Erin, for coordinating this. I know that individual PI’s
and post-doctoral fellows are making inquiries and extremely generous
offers to scientific colleagues from the region who are in distress.
This is Krasnow at its best .

As we relax on this last unofficial weekend of Summer 2005, let’s also
keep our thoughts on those who are less fortunate.

Jim