Microbial Biology professor at Louisiana State University Dr. Gary M. King conducts research all over the world — and beyond — as his current research even explores the survival of microbes on Mars. Part of a military family, King moved around a lot and continues to travel wherever his work takes him. Currently, he is a resident of Baton Rouge and one of the 12 speakers in the TEDxLSU 2016 event.
I recently connected with King to learn more about his research and passions.
Your work has taken you all over the world. What’s your favorite place you have ever been, and why?
I can’t say there’s any place I haven’t enjoyed. Even unfriendly, dangerous places have their charms, including a decaying old Soviet mansion in Paratunka, a little village north of Petropavlovsk. I suppose my favorite places all involve something outdoors: sailing in Maine, the summit of Mauna Loa, hiking in the White Mountains, a hot spring soak in the Alvord Desert, or a motorcycle ride in a Thai jungle.
When you are preparing yourself for research, what do you do to get in the zone?
Is there a zone? I’m afraid I’ve never learned any special chants or incantations. I think I do the same thing for research that I do when I go for a run, paddle a kayak, or read an interesting novel. You either get into something or you don’t. I guess I just get into it.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your research, and what do you wish you could tell them?
I am not sure people have any particular misconceptions. If there is a misconception, it is that as a faculty member my work happens in association with classes, two semesters per year. That really couldn’t be more wrong. Like most faculty at LSU, my work goes on for 6-plus days a week, throughout the year. Research doesn’t operate on a clock, and it doesn’t know about holidays.
What inspired you to study microbes?
My first research experience as an undergrad was for an entomologist who had me evaluate a physical model of aerosol distribution to find the optimum droplet size for the application of herbicides and pesticides. After I wrote a paper for him that he really liked, he offered me a PhD assistantship while I was a junior and promised a quick ride with a guarantee of lucrative jobs with companies like Dow Chemical. As it turns out, I wasn’t interested in macroscopic “bugs.” When I learned that microbial “bugs” are the engines of many major processes that are important for the biological part of earth science, I knew I had found the fork in the road I wanted to follow.
In an alternate universe, if you weren’t studying Earth and Mars, what would you be doing?
Maybe I would be on Mars studying Earth? Or maybe I would be a Great Pyrenees looking after some sheep and goats. I also like to cook, so maybe I would end up as the Stove in “Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Day Out,” and spend my time skiing on the moon.
What three things do you have in your refrigerator right now?
I’m out of everything, especially milk, which I consume a lot. There is a stash of yogurt, some really nasty ghost pepper sauce from a guy in Hilo, Hawaii, and a few bottles of Moxie. Moxie is great stuff, made in New Hampshire, loved in Maine and surprisingly available here.
This year’s TEDxLSU theme is “Why”: What is your biggest “why” question right now?
Why is it so exceedingly difficult for people to find a way to talk rationally across the gulf that divides so many on issues like guns, immigration, race, religion, justice, etc? Why does it seem so difficult to work collectively to minimize, if not eliminate, violence, injustice, discrimination, and poverty, when we generally agree that they are all contrary to our shared aspirations?
If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be and how would you use it?
Solving my “why” questions .
If you could take another TEDxLSU speaker on a research trip with you, who would you take and where would you go?
A research trip? Work, work, work. That’s all we do. I’m game for going with anyone who’d go work on the International Space Station for six months. If someone can get us tickets, I’m packed and ready to go.
