Jonas E. Salk (October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) is best remembered for his discovery and development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine introduced in 1955 in America. He attended medical school at New York University and instead of a career as a physician which many students did gravitate towards, Salk took on medical research and spent many tireless days in the laboratory in the hope of discovery, knowing it could assist so many of the population affected by the scourge of polio, which by 1952 was at near record proportions with nearly 58,000 cases reported that year, 3,145 people died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis. To get an insight into this great man’s standing, his main purpose was to develop a vaccine to eradicate polio with no interest in personal accolades or the almighty dollar, when asked by an interviewer “Who owned the patent for the vaccine?” Salk replied “No-one. Could you patent the sun?” So let’s be grateful for the efforts Jonas Salk has contributed to all of us on the anniversary of his birthday, he truly is ‘A Man of the People’
.The Salk School of Science opened in 1995 only a few months after the death of Jonas E. Salk educating many young people in the importance of science, therefore bringing improvements to the lives, health and well-being of all humanity today and well into the future. The school subscribes to the following key criteria which to my thinking benefits all and doesn’t discriminate:
• being open to new ideas
• developing and asking questions
• identifying problems
• formulating hypotheses and making predictions
• collecting and organizing evidence
• using logic and evidence to support claims
• maintaining a skeptical attitude
• synthesizing, analysing, and evaluating information
• considering and evaluating alternatives
• communicating conclusions effectively through writing, speaking, and use of technology
