Dear Norman,
It is with the most heartfelt gratitude that I write this note of thanks for all that you have done for me and my career. It is so great to hear of this special acknowledgment of your life-long commitment to science, and it is such an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to it.
I still recall fondly my first lectures with you in neuroscience, physiology and pharmacology at the University of Tasmania. I remember feeling so lucky as a student to have the chair of the department meet with me to talk about past and present research, and to sit with you at the microscope and look through sections of the developing opossum brain and spinal cord. Thank you for being so patient as I was learning. Hopefully I didn’t make too many mistakes along the way. I learned so much from you during my undergraduate studies, throughout my graduate research, and I still learn from your example to this day.
You are a remarkable scientist and an incredible person to whom I owe a great deal. You trained me for a career that I truly love and continue to be excited by every day. I would not be where I am today – pursuing my passion – if it were not for your mentoring, kindness, support and friendship. With all my heart, thank you Norman.
With warmest of wishes on this special day,
Michael Lane