Page 8 - June 2026 Insider

INSIDER • June 2026

Page 8
2026 ARCS Scholar Graduations at USD

and Scripps Research (May 14-15, 2026)…
Continued from Page 7

Later that same week, I attended the Scripps Research graduation, where two of our
Scholars were honored. Although Garrett Lindsey was unable to attend, Justice
Fleischmann was there to bask in the warm tribute offered by one of his faculty
mentors.

I was seated next to Chris Cottrell, an SR ARCS alumnus and
senior research scientist working on HIV vaccines. Chris shared
that royalties from his contributions to the development of the
Pfizer COVID vaccine – work he conducted while still a graduate
student – enabled him to establish an endowed graduate student
childcare supplement fund at the Institute. The fund helps
increase stipends and offset childcare costs for student
researchers. He explained that when he and his wife were
graduate students at Scripps, his parents helped pay for childcare
SR Scholar Justice Fleischmann for their daughter, and without that support they would not have
and Leslie Bruce
been able to complete their training. That experience inspired
him to “pay it forward” to the next generation of scientists. How
proud I am that our Chapter supported him!

Keynote speaker Peter Dervan, PhD, delivered a compelling
defense of scientific research in America. A Professor Emeritus of
Chemistry at Caltech, he reflected on the extraordinary
generational impact of scientific mentorship. Dervan had
mentored Scripps Research President and CEO Peter Schultz, who
in turn mentored another leading scientist, who then mentored
SR Scholar Alum Chris Cottrell yet another renowned researcher. Dervan affectionately referred
and Leslie Bruce to the final scientist in that lineage as his “great-grandchild” – a
poignant illustration of the continuity of discovery across
generations.
Dervan also shared a striking perspective on the return on America’s investment in
science. He recalled asking an economist to estimate the impact of taxpayer funding for
scientific research since the launch of Sputnik in 1957. The estimate: American taxpayers
have invested roughly $2–3 trillion in scientific research since then, generating an
astonishing $50–60 trillion in economic prosperity. Yet another reason ARCS proudly
stands with science!

Scripps Research Director and ARCS member Nicola Wilkins-Miller assured us that
more ARCS members would be warmly welcomed at next year’s ceremony – another
fascinating and affirming field trip to look forward to.