Hello, everyone. I’m Martie McNabb, coming to you from my mom’s basement. Today, I’m thrilled to share an incredible conversation I had with Paul Szauter, a man whose journey and work are both deeply inspiring.

So, a while back, I embarked on a project called “Our Community in 30 Things.” I reached out to a group of 14-15 people, asking them to contribute objects that represented parts of their life stories. One of the first people to volunteer was Paul. He brought a particularly fascinating object—a plastic moon coin bank, a nod to his lifelong fascination with science and exploration.

Paul’s story begins with his parents, who were World War II refugees. They immigrated to the United States in 1949, carrying with them a mix of Hungarian and Dutch heritage. Growing up, Paul’s parents emphasized the importance of education and curiosity. They often took him to museums, where his love for science began to take root.

I vividly remember Paul’s excitement as he recounted the U.S.’s panic over Sputnik and how it ignited his passion for space and science. He even watched the moon landing in 9th grade, a moment that cemented his desire to pursue science and engineering. This passion eventually led him to become a geneticist, working with the groundbreaking Human Genome Project.

But Paul’s career didn’t stop there. He founded a company called EquiSeq, which specializes in genetic tests for horses, leveraging data from the Human Genome Project. It’s fascinating how he managed to apply his expertise in human genetics to the realm of equine science. He likes to compare these ambitious projects to “moonshots,” emphasizing the importance of taking big risks to achieve great things.

Paul’s involvement in my project was more than just contributing his moon coin bank. He helped bring the community together, shedding light on the importance of collaboration and support among scientists and entrepreneurs. His dedication to education is truly inspiring; he recently judged a science fair and constantly stresses the need to stimulate children’s interest in STEM fields.

Listening to Paul, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own journey, from studying earth science and biology to teaching high school students in New York City. Our paths, although different, resonate with the same core values: the importance of curiosity, community, and the relentless pursuit of our passions.

As we concluded our conversation, I thanked him wholeheartedly for sharing his story and for participating in “Our Community in 30 Things.” And I extend that gratitude to all our listeners today. 

Stay curious and keep supporting one another. This has been Things That Matter with Martie McNabb, signing off.

EquiSeq is an equine services company for people who want better horses. EquiSeq’s DNA test is a genetic screen that identifies horses at risk for a muscle disease before they develop symptoms. https://www.equiseq.com/

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