Dr. Bruce Alberts Elected to the Board of Carnegie Corporation of New York

Bruce Alberts, biochemist and president of the National Academy of Sciences, has been elected to serve a four-year term as trustee on Carnegie Corporation of New York’s board of directors. Dr. Alberts joins the board effective October 2000 and will bring his leadership experience as administrator, educator and scientist.

“Bruce Alberts is a forceful addition to this Carnegie board which is focused on the need to improve higher education in the increasingly complicated and technologically driven world of the 21st Century,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. Not only does Dr. Alberts bring insight into the critical technological and scientific challenges facing the world, he brings a commitment to improving scientific education at all levels. We are indeed lucky to have his talent and advice.”

“Carnegie Corporation of New York is a name that I’ve respected since my earliest years in science,” said Bruce Alberts. “The history of this foundation is synonymous with the history of American scientific advancement. Since the early 1900’s, Carnegie has been involved in promoting the advancement of scientific learning and experimentation. I look forward to working with Carnegie to shape grantmaking in the new century.”

Alberts leads the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, a private, nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1863. He was elected by the Academy’s 2100 members to a second and final six-year term in 1999. As president, Alberts also serves as chair of the National Research Council, an 1100-employee “operating arm” of the National Academies that conducts independent science, engineering and health policy studies. 

Alberts joined the Academy in 1981 when he held the American Cancer Society Lifetime Research Professorship at the University of California, San Francisco and was elected to his first term as president of the Academy in 1993. He has focused heavily on science and mathematics education issues, helping to steer development of the landmark National Science Education Standards that are currently being implemented in school systems nationwide. He launched the Academy’s Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science, a book directed at helping the nation’s science teachers do a better job of teaching the fundamental principles of biology. Alberts has also focused on increasing the role that science and science policy plays in the international arena. 

Alberts is a respected biochemist recognized for his work in both biochemistry and molecular biology and particularly for his extensive molecular analyses of the protein complexes that allow chromosomes to be replicated. Alberts earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1965 and joined the faculty of Princeton a year later. In 1976 he was appointed professor and vice chair of the department of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. He became chair of the department in 1985. Alberts is one of the principal authors of The Molecular Biology of the Cell, now in its third edition and considered one of the leading advanced textbooks in this field.

Alberts has been recognized for his commitment to the improvement of science education and was one of the creators of the respected City Science program for improving science teaching in San Francisco elementary schools. In 1997 Dr. Alberts was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award by The Exploratorium in San Francisco.

Bruce Alberts, biochemist and president of the National Academy of Sciences, has been elected to serve a four-year term as trustee on Carnegie Corporation of New York’s board of directors. Dr. Alberts joins the board effective October 2000 and will bring his leadership experience as administrator, educator and scientist.

“Bruce Alberts is a forceful addition to this Carnegie board which is focused on the need to improve higher education in the increasingly complicated and technologically driven world of the 21st Century,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. Not only does Dr. Alberts bring insight into the critical technological and scientific challenges facing the world, he brings a commitment to improving scientific education at all levels. We are indeed lucky to have his talent and advice.”

“Carnegie Corporation of New York is a name that I’ve respected since my earliest years in science,” said Bruce Alberts. “The history of this foundation is synonymous with the history of American scientific advancement. Since the early 1900’s, Carnegie has been involved in promoting the advancement of scientific learning and experimentation. I look forward to working with Carnegie to shape grantmaking in the new century.”

Alberts leads the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, a private, nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1863. He was elected by the Academy’s 2100 members to a second and final six-year term in 1999. As president, Alberts also serves as chair of the National Research Council, an 1100-employee “operating arm” of the National Academies that conducts independent science, engineering and health policy studies. 

Alberts joined the Academy in 1981 when he held the American Cancer Society Lifetime Research Professorship at the University of California, San Francisco and was elected to his first term as president of the Academy in 1993. He has focused heavily on science and mathematics education issues, helping to steer development of the landmark National Science Education Standards that are currently being implemented in school systems nationwide. He launched the Academy’s Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science, a book directed at helping the nation’s science teachers do a better job of teaching the fundamental principles of biology. Alberts has also focused on increasing the role that science and science policy plays in the international arena. 

Alberts is a respected biochemist recognized for his work in both biochemistry and molecular biology and particularly for his extensive molecular analyses of the protein complexes that allow chromosomes to be replicated. Alberts earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1965 and joined the faculty of Princeton a year later. In 1976 he was appointed professor and vice chair of the department of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. He became chair of the department in 1985. Alberts is one of the principal authors of The Molecular Biology of the Cell, now in its third edition and considered one of the leading advanced textbooks in this field.

Alberts has been recognized for his commitment to the improvement of science education and was one of the creators of the respected City Science program for improving science teaching in San Francisco elementary schools. In 1997 Dr. Alberts was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award by The Exploratorium in San Francisco.