Evan contacted Jason the next day. When he learned that Jason’s host worked in biopharmaceutical research, he immediately mentioned that he had some questions regarding medicines and wanted to consult his host. After getting the host’s consent, Jason arranged a time for them to meet.
Goodson worked in biopharmaceutical research during his days in the United States. After immigrating to France, he continued his career path and was now an expert in the field. Talkative, he often chatted with Jason, especially on the topics of biopharmaceuticals and affairs related to the United States. He was particularly fond of Jason, who was also American. Being able to speak in English made them feel at home with each other.
Excited about Evan’s visit, Goodson was very hospitable. The three of them chatted about all kinds of subjects in an amicable atmosphere.
Evan said, “Mr. Goodson, I did a research project in college with my team. It was about the global disappearance of bees. We identified the cause as varroa destructors, which parasitize honeybees. We then extracted a component from thyme and made an herbal medicine of thymol that proved effective in killing the parasite. I haven’t seen any similar research in agricultural journals based in the States or Europe. Have you seen any research similar to ours?”
Goodson’s eyes lit up. “It sounds like great research! I’ve never read any similar reports. Looks like you are cut out for medical research!”
“I majored in agronomy. I am cut out only for rough work on the farm,” Evan joked.
Goodman smiled and turned to Jason. “What do you plan to do?”
Caught off guard, he answered hesitantly, “I’m not sure yet. I’ll go to medical school first.”
“Do you want to be a doctor?”
“I haven’t decided. I’ve heard that doctors have long working hours and that there are so many reports, seminars, and consultations the job feels quite oppressive. I might not be able to get used to it.” He had an active personality and did not like restrictive work.
“Do you have any other options?” Goodson asked.
“Not at the moment.”
“Even if you choose not to be a doctor, don’t leave the field of bioeconomy. As humans progress, the bioeconomy will replace the information and Internet communications industry and become the world’s most powerful economic force. Its impact on mankind and the speed with which it changes the world will surpass traditional agriculture, industry, and communication technology. Even the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, who founded Microsoft, said that the next world’s richest man would come from the biotechnology industry. You have to ride the wave and pay attention to the trend.”
“The term bioeconomy is quite new. What categories does it refer to?” asked Evan.
“This term was coined by Juan Enriquez, former director of the Life Science Project at Harvard Business School. Bioeconomy includes anything related to health or any economic behaviors derived from the use of biotechnology in food, clothing, housing, transportation, sports, or entertainment. In the future, clothing, and fuel that are biologically synthesized, biological breeding, and waste treatment will subvert their traditional productions. Among them, biomedicine is the most representative. For example, we can now use a drop of blood to diagnose and treat early-stage cancer. Also, doctors can now extract the DNA from a lesion, repair it, and put it back in, curing diseases that were once terminal. Chemical drugs will be replaced by biological drugs with precise curative effects and no side effects. The world is moving toward the era of precision medicine.[1] Regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy, has become affordable and popular; people now tend to look younger than their age. It will become more common for centenarians to remain active and productive.”
[1] Precision medicine is an emerging method of individually tailored treatment, which targets a patient’s gene, symptoms, environment, and lifestyle, collecting the pathogenic factors to come up with a strategy for cure. It is different from the traditional one size fit for all method that is usually ineffective and has side effects.
“That sounds exciting! But I’m not a biotechnology major, so how do I get my foot in the door of this field?” asked Jason.
“All it takes is a medical background! Did you know that Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has the most highly concentrated biotechnology industry in the world, has been identified as the city with the strongest creative energy out of the twenty-five hottest startup cities in the United States? Even Silicon Valley comes second. Cambridge has replaced San Francisco as the new Silicon Valley, leading the biomedical industry in the future. Sixteen of the world’s twenty largest pharmaceutical companies have set up R&D centers there, including Pfizer, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi, Roche, and Takeda. GE, which owns a large-scale biotechnology business, also plans to relocate its biotechnology headquarters to Boston. Hundreds of biotechnology startup companies are developing various new biotechnological drugs, similar to when the digital technology industry in Silicon Valley first took off. Well-funded venture-capital firms have been stationed in Cambridge, providing funding at any time. The Cambridge district has established a complete chain of production, including financial affairs, tax planning, and processing, fundraising, recruitment, clinical trials, outsourcing data statistics, and dealing with FDA officials. All the logistics are taken care of, so entrepreneurial scientists can devote themselves to research and development without the distraction of these mundane affairs. Nor is there a need to hire full-time employees to start a company. The prosperity of the high division of labor, high-risk diversification, and the intimate community interaction creates the opportunity to realize one’s dream. Before the 1960s, small-molecule chemical drugs represented the mainstream, and then large-molecule protein drugs became popular. Protein drugs have now reached a market of $200 billion. The new generation, represented by gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy,[2] and RNA therapy,[3] which integrates computer science, physics, engineering, and molecular genetics, and biotechnology, will take root in The Cambridge district and become the next big thing. When you go back to the States, I advise going to The Cambridge district for either study or work. You will do well because of your intelligence and medical background. I plan to go there when provided with an opportunity.”
[2] It is a new trend of cancer treatment by stimulating human immunity to kill cancer cells.
[3] In the basics of life-sustaining activities, the genetic code of DNA must be transcribed into RNA, and then translated into protein. RNA is an important part of the living mechanism.
“Thank you! You pointed the way, and now I know where I want to go.” Jason suddenly realized what he wanted to do in the future.
“Bioeconomy will indeed have a great impact on mankind, and agriculture is no exception,” said Evan.
Goodson talked about pharmaceuticals constantly—it was virtually an occupational hazard. Whenever he chatted with Jason, he talked about the topic in depth. Jason did not understand some of it, but he found pharmaceuticals interesting. Goodson was happy to find someone with whom to discuss the topic and share his knowledge.
Goodson’s daughter, Aimee, was innocent and pretty. She had shoulder-length hair, fair skin, freckles on her face, and charming dimples when she smiled. She was in high school.
With his handsome looks, friendly conversation, and charming smile, Jason became Aimee’s crush. He resembled a young Tom Cruise, and when Aimee met him, she fell for him because she saw him in just this way.
Aimee’s heart always beat faster when she saw Jason. She usually lived with her mother, but now she visited her dad frequently to be close to Jason.
She entered the room and sat with them while they conversed. When Goodson stopped talking, she asked in fluent English, “How are you adapting to Paris?” She smiled timidly.
“Very well, thank you!” Jason smiled brightly and immediately introduced her to Evan.
“When I’m done with the exam, I’ll show you guys around,” she said coyly. She wanted more opportunities to hang out with Jason.
“That’d be great! I was confused about where to visit!” Jason looked at Aimee, who blushed.
“If you are interested in the French countryside, I can take you out of town to experience it,” said Aimee cautiously, blinking at Jason.
“Wonderful! I’d be delighted!” Jason’s excitement cheered Aimee.
“Tour France in depth; then one can know what the country is really like,” Goodson interjected.
“It seems that the French people are all happy, that France is like a paradise,” Evan remarked.
“True, but with globalization and the aging of the population, France’s fiscal crisis has become increasingly serious. If it worsens, France may become a second-tier country in Europe,” Goodson said.
“How come?” asked Evan, surprised.
“The overall unemployment rate and youth unemployment rate have reached new highs. The country’s economic growth is far below that of Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Asian countries. Government spending is approaching 57% of GDP, the highest in the eurozone. The government’s debt is more than 90% of GDP. Ninety out of every thousand people are civil servants, compared to only fifty in Germany. Social welfare expenditures account for 32% of GDP, the highest among industrialized countries. Wages are rising faster than productivity growth. These are all warning signs for France.
“Switzerland’s Lausanne School of Management ranks global competitiveness; among sixty countries, the United States ranks first, Japan ranks twenty-fourth, and France ranks twenty-eighth. France has excellent health insurance and pension systems; however, it can no longer afford social welfare expenditures.”
Although economics was not his area of expertise, Goodson knew a great deal about economic issues and was talkative. So talkative, in fact, that he interrupted Aimee’s attempt to converse with Jason. She felt a little disheartened.
Throughout the afternoon, Goodson couldn’t bring himself to stop talking. Evan felt he had learned an important lesson. He was happy for Jason’s good fortune in being chosen as a guest by Goodson.
Aimee did not understand the topic, but she was excited about visiting the countryside with Jason. In her mind, she started planning a dream trip during which she and Jason could be intimate.
On the day of the Louvre tour, Jason and Tracy discovered that they liked each other. Jason wanted to ask Tracy out, but Anne’s friend, Morgan, saw him at an event and fell in love with him. She followed him around, and he was unable to contact Tracy. Now he had made Aimee fall for him. He was a true charmer.
He saw Aimee only as a little sister, not noticing that she had already fallen in love and thus not thinking carefully about what would happen when he agreed to spend time in the countryside with her. He was unaware that an interaction between a young man and a young woman could lead to something romantic.
Evan sensed something was going on and teased his friend. “A big bad wolf and an innocent little lamb. The little lamb is doomed!”
“To hell with you! Nonsense! Why don’t you come with us?” snapped Jason.
Evan laughed.Evan had once again learned something new from an expert and realized how valuable it was to talk to people with real knowledge. It reinforced his resolve to visit and talk to the host families.