Failed novelist is top at Oxford Uni as scientist

Gero Miesenböck left Austria 16 years ago. Foto: miesenböck

By Thomas Hochwarter

Neurobiologist from Austria finds fame in US and UK.
Miesenböck on his fruitless writer bid.

Oxford. One of the world’s most respected scientists has told how he only rose to the top of his field when he failed as a writer and found an interest in neurobiology.

Austrian Gero Miesen- böck left Austria 16 years ago for the US to pursue a career in fundamental research. After working at the elite Yale University, the 44-year-old was lured to Oxford University in 2007 to lead its nerve cell research projects.

Miesenböck’s CV seems like the straightforward sto- ry of a whizzkid. But spea- king to News on Austria, Miesenböck reveals he in fact had very different goals in life until experiencing bitter disappointment as a late teenager.

He says: "I dreamed of becoming an author. I tried myself as a novelist but found out I hadn’t got the talent. I was lacking crea- tivity and imitated others after failing to find my own style. It was only then, in college, that I turned to natural science.”

Now Miesenböck is a Waynflete Professor of Phy- siology at the world-famous University of Oxford, Eng- land. He admits it is hard to explain complex science but gives it a shot, saying: "I am researching why ner- ve cells have such a limited repertoire of actions. They can only send signals at certain times.”

"We are currently investi- gating the fruit fly. We are working on a method which could enable us to activate its brain nerve cells by applying light. We are trying to find out whether it is possible to read or influence their mind."

The Braunau-born prof is not surprised when told this sounds like something from George Orwell’s 1984. He says: "There are hurdles when it comes to doing the same with humans, but I also think ethics should be considered in all medical and scientific areas.

"I am aware that ‘influen- cing nerve cells’ sounds horrible - but the same happens when you take an antidepressant or have a glass of wine,” he argues.

Miesenböck, who says he has no plans to return to Austria, recently attended the opening of the new elite institute IST Austria in Maria Gugging. He says: "I really wish IST Austria all the best. It will certainly be an important impulse for science in Austria.”

Asked what he misses from Austria, he says: "It’s hard to say. I left Austria such a long time ago. But I think I miss the feeling of spending time outside in early summer - sitting in beer gardens or parks with friends, having dinner in the garden of a restaurant.

"That does not really exist in the US or in the UK, at least not the way it is part of the culture in Austria.”

Miesenböck is not the first expat to confirm the fact Austria always only made the news abroad in a negative context - "for example when the FPÖ won an election.

"But this is probably the destiny of a small country,” he adds.

Despite having a challen- ging profession, Miesen- böck says he manages to "switch off” from work to relax, adding his best ideas often come to him when he is not at work.

Miesenböck, who lists hiking, cycling and skiing as his hobbies, says he is still in love with literature - "although the relationship has became a ‘passive’ one,” he smiles.

See http://www.austriantimes.at for the full version of the article.

Printausgabe vom 13.06.2009