Letters to the Editor | Oct. 5, 2023

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman certainly deserve the Nobel Prize in medicine for their work on messenger RNA. However, the three Inquirer stories offered on Oct. 3 missed a critical aspect of Karikó’s history at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn is singing her praises now (and benefiting mightily from the royalties of her work), but for years the university saw little value in her research, never offered her a permanent academic position, and forced her to retire in the prime of her career. Her dogged determination in pursuing the merits of her research is the sole reason why we had some of the most important tools needed to fight the pandemic. Reporters need to better challenge Penn, asking why a celebrated Nobel laureate languished during her career there. While we rightly celebrate her Nobel Prize, Penn needs to reconcile its dismal treatment of this world-renowned treasure.

Joseph Hochreiter, Yardley

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Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman are feeling great pride at receiving the Nobel Prize in medicine. No doubt the University of Pennsylvania is feeling great pride for having these Nobel laureates under its roof. Yet, one need not read too deeply to recognize that Karikó seems to be receiving this honor despite Penn, not because of it. She was denied a tenure track position, was asked to retire, and is currently at Penn as an adjunct professor, the lowest position on the professorial ladder. To me, she represents one more example of academic sexism. Is this real? Yes. Is this new? No. Have you ever wondered why we refer to Marie Curie as “madame” rather than “doctor,” even though she received a Doctor of Science degree and was head of the physics lab at the Sorbonne? As with all the “isms,” sexism can be so subtle that we do not even know we are participating.

Marti Trudeau, Jenkintown

Pennsylvania is the 12th state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a bipartisan program to cap and reduce carbon pollution from power plants. The proceeds RGGI generates can be reinvested in clean energy and create new jobs that boost local economies. Gov. Josh Shapiro has made it clear that for Pennsylvania to be an energy powerhouse and grow our economy, we need a forward-thinking, climate-conscious plan that invests in clean energy with the capacity to create good-paying jobs.

That is exactly what RGGI has done for neighboring states, and it’s exactly what RGGI will do for Pennsylvania. RGGI will generate tens of thousands of high-paying, family-sustaining jobs and add nearly $2 billion to our economy by 2030. It is vital for Shapiro to recognize that RGGI is consistent with his goal of “protecting jobs and protecting the planet,” and should ensure it is implemented equitably and effectively. This program paves the way for a more prosperous Pennsylvania by creating jobs and constructing a more resilient energy infrastructure that will boost economic growth.

Emmy Allison, impact consultant, LIFT Economy

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