Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Advice for a Young Investigator by Santiago Ramón y Cajal

Black and White Portrait of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, provided to the Nobel Foundation by U.S National Library of Medicine, History of Medicine Division, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934) was a Spanish scientist. He made groundbreaking discoveries on the anatomy of the brain and nervous system. For his pioneering scientific research, Cajal received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1906 with Camillo Golgi.

Three drawings by Santiago Ramon y Cajal, taken from the book Comparative study of the sensory areas of the human cortexPublic domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Three drawings by Santiago Ramon y Cajal from the book Comparative Study of the Sensory Areas of the Human Cortex (1899). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Cajal made many beautiful and detailed studies of the microscopic structures of neurons and the brain. One example, shown above, are his detailed drawings showing a comparative study of the areas of the human cortex. The left panel shows the Nissl-stained visual cortex of a human adult. The middle panel shows the Nissl-stained motor cortex of a human adult. The right panel shows a Golgi-stained cortex of a 1 1/2-month-old infant.

Advice for a Young Investigator by Santiago Ramón y Cajal book cover

In Advice for a Young Investigator (1897), Santiago Ramon y Cajal provides encouragement for scientists, particularly new investigators. Many parts of the book were humorous, in particular the characterizations of scientists and the impediments in the way of scientific progress. Cajal wrote his advice for an audience of male scientists (he considers women helpmates). However, ignoring the sexism of the time, Cajal’s advice and teachings can be applied by women scientists too.

Purchase and read books by and about Santiago Ramon y Cajal:

Advice for a Young Investigator by Santiago Ramón y Cajal Comparative Study of the Sensory Areas of the Human Cortex by Santiago Ramón y Cajal The Beautiful Brain: The Drawings of Santiago Ramon y Cajal by Larry W. Swanson and Eric Newman The Dreams of Santiago Ramón y Cajal by Benjamin Ehrlich


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