VOA标准英语2011--Professor Unravels Mysteries of Medicine

It's been said that while everyone loves learning¹ something new, people don't always like being taught. A scientist from Colorado is working to change that.
John Cohen still remembers his very first lecture, thirty years ago. "My slides didn't work and I talked too fast and nobody knew what I was talking about and my knees were knocking. It was awful."
That's not the case today. In 40 years as a professor of Immunology, Cohen has received nearly 30 Excellence² in Teaching³ Awards from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
"Dr. Cohen is incredibly enthusiastic in his lectures," says one of his students. "Very knowledgable."
"He's one of the best lecturers I've ever heard," says another.
A third medical student agrees. "You just can't help it to usually pay attention."
Cohen's approach is to not only help his students understand immunology, but also to allow them to enjoy learning about it. He thanks that first, awful lecture for his teaching success today.
"What I did figure out was, I've got two choices, like everyone else," he says. "I can go on saying, oh my God, that was awful, I'm going to do as little teaching as I possibly can because I'm no good, I hate it, and they hate me, or I'm going to become better at it."
Lisa Litzenberger
Professor John Cohen, with guest lecturer Dan Bessesen, at a Mini Med School gathering⁴ to discuss the science of medicine with members of the community.
Bringing high-tech⁵ science down to earth
He got so much better, that he took his lectures on the road.
In 1989, Cohen began a free series of lectures for the community about the science of medicine. The purpose of the lectures is to enlighten⁶ people by providing a scientific background that will improve their understanding of the human body and help them take charge of their health.
Cohen expected his Mini Med School to attract just a few science fans. However, more than 17,000 people have attended Mini Med over the past 20 years. It has inspired similar programs in more than 80 schools and hospitals around the world.
Helen McFarlane, who manages Mini Med, says its down-to-earth explanations empower people to expect the same from their doctors. "If there's something going on with your own health, You can say, wait, I don't quite understand this. Explain to me what this words means, and then I'll get through and understand what's happening."
Cafe Scientifique
Cohen organizes another innovative⁷ teaching gig called Cafe Scientifique. Every month, it packs a Denver brewpub with more than 100 people, eager to hear a local scientist discuss cutting-edge research. Cohen is a big fan of the informal discussions⁸ about science, which began in 1998 in England. His Denver Cafe Sci is one of the longest-running and most popular in the U.S.
Presenters⁹ have included researchers, professors, clinicians and, recently, physiologist¹⁰ Inigo San Millan. "I have to say this is a new format¹¹ for me. I feel like a little bit naked¹²."
Cohen says most of the scientists and clinicians who speak at Cafe Sci find a receptive audience, and realize that giving a talk is not that scary.
"I have lots of clinical colleagues who take care of patients, and I've never heard any of them say to me, 'Oh, I'm a terrible doctor, I kill half of my patients.' Nobody says that, and nobody feels that. My research colleagues never say, 'Oh, I'm a terrible researcher. My experiments are stupid and half of them don't work.' But it's amazing how many people say, 'Oh, I'm a terrible teacher, I'd do anything to get out of it, and it's a waste of time for me.'"
He believes the more someone gets into teaching, the more fun they have. "And you teach everybody. I go to a restaurant, I start to explain the biochemistry of the food to the waiter."
Now Cohen is developing a Cafe Pedagogique, where students and teachers, together, can brainstorm¹³ even better ways to teach. It's just another reason why the American Association¹⁴ for the Advancement¹⁵ of Science recently presented Cohen with its top award for Promoting Public Understanding of Science and Technology.

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

3 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

6 enlighten   

v.授予...知识，启发，教导，开导

参考例句：

• Can you enlighten her on this subject?对这个问题你能启发启发她吗？
• Please enlighten me with your instructions.请不吝赐教。

7 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

8 discussions   

n.讨论( discussion的名词复数 )；商讨；详述；论述

参考例句：

• Discussions are held on an informal basis within the department. 讨论限于在本部门内非正式地进行。
• Her specialist input to the discussions has been very useful. 她在这些讨论中提供的专家建议很有助益。

9 presenters   

n.节目主持人，演播员( presenter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Each week presenters would put the case for their favourite candidate. 每个星期主持人推出他们最喜欢的候选人。 来自互联网
• Karaoke was set up to allowed presenters to sing on the stage. 宴会设有歌唱舞台，可让出席者大演唱功。 来自互联网

10 physiologist   

n.生理学家

参考例句：

• Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936). （1849-1936）苏联生理学家，在狗身上观察到唾液条件反射，曾获1904年诺贝尔生理学-医学奖。
• The physiologist recently studied indicated that evening exercises beneficially. 生理学家新近研究表明，傍晚锻炼最为有益。

11 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

12 naked   

adj.裸露的；赤裸裸的，无遮蔽的

参考例句：

• To the east of our school,there's a naked hillside.我们学校东边有片光秃秃的山坡。
• The children stripped off their clothes and swam naked in the river.孩子们脱得光溜溜的在河里游泳。

13 brainstorm   

vi.动脑筋，出主意，想办法，献计，献策

参考例句：

• The women meet twice a month to brainstorm and set business goals for each other.她们每个月聚会两次，在一起出谋献策，为各自制定生意目标。
• We can brainstorm a list of the most influential individuals in the company.我们可以集体讨论，列出该公司中最有影响的人员的名单。

14 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

15 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。