Planting Seeds, Growing a Future
by Carly Hallman
When a child dreams of becoming a scientist, he or she most commonly has visions of spaceships, machinery, and microscopes. Much less common are visions of gardens, citrus, and banana trees. However, this sector of research had to have originated somewhere- how else would the plutonium-powered DeLorean’s flux compositor transport Marty McFly to, “… where they don’t need roads?” What would every downtown Southern style restaurant serve for dessert?
Luckily for us, we have a local expert devoted to just this subject. Known to his family as “Bubba”, Dr. Richard Wallace has spent the last seven years devoted to identifying a banana variety that can grow and produce edible fruit in Southeast Georgia’s climate; and he just so happens to be testing it right in our own backyard.
Born in Savannah and raised in Pooler, Dr. Wallace is the youngest of three children. Dr. Wallace has wonderful memories of his childhood. He describes his parents as having been “tough when necessary… and with [him], they needed to be tough most of the time.” His father, now deceased, was a machinist for Union Camp, now International Paper. He idolized him and remembers him as “the most talented person I’ve ever known. If it could break, he could fix it.” He recalls following him around and trying desperately to figure out the mechanics of everyday-to-obscure objects, while watching his father’s effortless fixes. Dr. Wallace speaks of his mother with an air of respect and reverence that could melt any maternal heart.
Growing up in Pooler, the Wallace family was only a stone’s throw away from Richmond Hill. Dr. Wallace enjoys recalling childhood father and son fishing and hunting trips and frequent family outings to Fort McAllister to discover its history and scenery.
So, what was the source of such an interest? From where did Dr. Wallace’s passion for banana research sprout? The seeds were planted during his childhood by his enthusiastic gardening parents. As we speak of this, his eyes sparkle as he recalls the rows in their family garden that was given to the children, with the freedom to plant whatever they so desired. His favorite items to plant were carrots, popcorn, and “anything out of the ordinary that you wouldn’t expect.”
In addition to his love of “watching things grow” his fascination for science from a young age help to mold his later career. He remembers going to Cape Canaveral as a child and seeing the Saturn 5 moon rockets. Even at a young age, Dr. Wallace was impressed and intrigued by the application of technology to everyday life. The chemistry set he got for Christmas didn’t hurt either!
His path towards science was further paved when he attended Groves High School in Garden City. While 50% of his time was spent as an offensive linesman for the football team, the other half was spent in the chemistry lab learning from the mentor whom he credits for his success today. Ms. Mary Roberson so sparked his scientific interest that he would spend his free time helping her stock the science closet and actually assisted her to develop a water distillation process for classroom labs. Dr. Wallace went on to earn a B.S. degree in chemistry at Armstrong Atlantic State University and proceeded to earn his Ph.D. in chemistry at Clemson University.
It was during his studies at Clemson that he met his wife. They started their grad programs at the same time. One night over dinner, the subject of marriage arose. He says they “both thought it was a good idea.” However, the radiant expression on his face as we discuss this subject clearly betrays his casual tone. His wife currently teaches chemistry in Brunswick at the College of Coastal Georgia. When asked if she is equally as passionate about bananas, Dr. Wallace smiles and says, “She tolerates it.” He admires that her passion lies within her “love for teaching and interaction with the students in the classroom.”
Dr. Wallace is approaching his eighth year of banana research. However, this topic was not always his “top banana.” Originally, and during his reign as a professor at University of Alabama, his work was with pharmaceuticals. He and his colleagues were looking for different medications useful for anti-cancer and H.I.V. programs. As he became a faculty member of Armstrong Atlantic, his research transitioned more towards plants. It began as a weekend hobby; however, once he realized there was more to learn about bananas than just nights and weekends allowed, the focus changed directions. He discovered that there were too many gaps in the then current research that professed that bananas would not grow in climates like ours. Also, the majority of banana research was directed at developing disease resistant bananas and there had not been sufficient research on range of growth. Dr. Wallace saw this as a perfect exploration opportunity. The more time he spent on the subject, the more his interest was sparked.
Now, one might ask the very basic question: “Why bananas?” Dr. Wallace’s response: “Why not?” He goes on to say that he was not driven by economic reasons; it merely started as curiosity. He has a knack for anything that is not “main-stream.” He loves being told that there is something that cannot be done. “It’s not defiance,” he quickly clarifies, he just simply wonders, “Why not?” Dr. Wallace has understandably grown quite fond of these banana trees. It is not difficult to see why- they are absolutely gorgeous. He comments that they look “so relaxing as they blow in the wind.” And, as aesthetically pleasing as they are, they are just as versatile in their use. Dr. Wallace specifies that, “anything you can do with a potato, you can do with a green banana.”
Dr. Wallace admits that when he first started this biotechnology research, he was unaware of how connected everything is. For example, he found some insect infestation on his plants a few years ago. Rather than spraying harmful pesticides right away, he let time run its course and now the insects and the bananas help each other thrive and live in balance. And, for those who need clarification like I did, biotechnology is a term used to describe the use of technology to answer biochemical questions.
As a researcher and a scientist, Dr. Wallace is striving to produce an even better variety of bananas. In the future, he would like to see local farmers growing them for both consumption and landscaping purposes. He jokes that they are like his own children, whom he hopes grows up to serve others one day. Dr. Wallace regrets that a lot of children today are missing the opportunity to see things grow and to gain the understanding of how fragile our ecosystem really is. “As a group, we depend on others too much to get food. There’s a lot to be done with just a little creativity and interest.”
Most of us feel, at least at one point in our lives, that we want to make the world a better place. Well, so does Dr. Wallace, and he is doing something about it. He says he has always been fascinated by the application of science. It is very easy to deem science as evil and insensitive, but as Dr. Wallace points out, it also serves “a whole lot of good.” Changing the public’s perception of this is definitely a goal of his.
The Wallace’s and their two golden retrievers, Gracie and Sylvester, still live in the “second house they ever looked at” when they first moved to Richmond Hill 15 years ago. Dr. Wallace is nothing but complimentary of the city: its growth, its location, and of his accepting and supportive neighbors. Also, he is lucky enough to still have his family in close proximity. Dr. Wallace’s brother and sister reside in Richmond Hill with their families, as well.
An additional perk this research has yielded is the affect it has had on Dr. Wallace’s main passion, teaching. He admits that he did not expect his students to find this as interesting as they did, especially in comparison to traditional organic chemistry research. “Every day is a learning experience,” Dr. Wallace explains, “new research, new discoveries. The world is changing; the boundaries are moving forward.” His passion is unmistakable and he passes this on to his students. He says he loves to see the “light come on in students’ eyes”- I imagine that it is quite helpful to see the fire burning in his. He states that teaching has, “the potential to impact” and he loves that.
In their free time, Dr. Wallace and his wife enjoy the outdoors- biking, walking, and going to the beach. He also enjoys putting his banana products to use by making one of his favorite dish- tostones. However, despite his renowned success and ground- breaking research, Dr. Wallace is confident enough to admit this surprising response upon my asking him to name his favorite fruit, “raspberries or cherries.” He does quickly retort, “but you can’t grow those here… yet!”
Dr. Wallace claims that every scientist has something in the back of his or her mind that sparks interest- one wonders if his parents had any inkling of the inspiration they cultivated with that one children’ garden row. I, for one, am honored that such an inspiring, optimistic and intelligent man is working to enrich our lives. Dr. Wallace admits, “If I had to give all of it up, I’d keep the teaching. Big picture, what determines our future is the next group of adults.” With Dr. Wallace leading the way, I’d say they are in pretty good hands.
by Carly Hallman
When a child dreams of becoming a scientist, he or she most commonly has visions of spaceships, machinery, and microscopes. Much less common are visions of gardens, citrus, and banana trees. However, this sector of research had to have originated somewhere- how else would the plutonium-powered DeLorean’s flux compositor transport Marty McFly to, “… where they don’t need roads?” What would every downtown Southern style restaurant serve for dessert?
Luckily for us, we have a local expert devoted to just this subject. Known to his family as “Bubba”, Dr. Richard Wallace has spent the last seven years devoted to identifying a banana variety that can grow and produce edible fruit in Southeast Georgia’s climate; and he just so happens to be testing it right in our own backyard.
Born in Savannah and raised in Pooler, Dr. Wallace is the youngest of three children. Dr. Wallace has wonderful memories of his childhood. He describes his parents as having been “tough when necessary… and with [him], they needed to be tough most of the time.” His father, now deceased, was a machinist for Union Camp, now International Paper. He idolized him and remembers him as “the most talented person I’ve ever known. If it could break, he could fix it.” He recalls following him around and trying desperately to figure out the mechanics of everyday-to-obscure objects, while watching his father’s effortless fixes. Dr. Wallace speaks of his mother with an air of respect and reverence that could melt any maternal heart.
Growing up in Pooler, the Wallace family was only a stone’s throw away from Richmond Hill. Dr. Wallace enjoys recalling childhood father and son fishing and hunting trips and frequent family outings to Fort McAllister to discover its history and scenery.
So, what was the source of such an interest? From where did Dr. Wallace’s passion for banana research sprout? The seeds were planted during his childhood by his enthusiastic gardening parents. As we speak of this, his eyes sparkle as he recalls the rows in their family garden that was given to the children, with the freedom to plant whatever they so desired. His favorite items to plant were carrots, popcorn, and “anything out of the ordinary that you wouldn’t expect.”
In addition to his love of “watching things grow” his fascination for science from a young age help to mold his later career. He remembers going to Cape Canaveral as a child and seeing the Saturn 5 moon rockets. Even at a young age, Dr. Wallace was impressed and intrigued by the application of technology to everyday life. The chemistry set he got for Christmas didn’t hurt either!
His path towards science was further paved when he attended Groves High School in Garden City. While 50% of his time was spent as an offensive linesman for the football team, the other half was spent in the chemistry lab learning from the mentor whom he credits for his success today. Ms. Mary Roberson so sparked his scientific interest that he would spend his free time helping her stock the science closet and actually assisted her to develop a water distillation process for classroom labs. Dr. Wallace went on to earn a B.S. degree in chemistry at Armstrong Atlantic State University and proceeded to earn his Ph.D. in chemistry at Clemson University.
It was during his studies at Clemson that he met his wife. They started their grad programs at the same time. One night over dinner, the subject of marriage arose. He says they “both thought it was a good idea.” However, the radiant expression on his face as we discuss this subject clearly betrays his casual tone. His wife currently teaches chemistry in Brunswick at the College of Coastal Georgia. When asked if she is equally as passionate about bananas, Dr. Wallace smiles and says, “She tolerates it.” He admires that her passion lies within her “love for teaching and interaction with the students in the classroom.”
Dr. Wallace is approaching his eighth year of banana research. However, this topic was not always his “top banana.” Originally, and during his reign as a professor at University of Alabama, his work was with pharmaceuticals. He and his colleagues were looking for different medications useful for anti-cancer and H.I.V. programs. As he became a faculty member of Armstrong Atlantic, his research transitioned more towards plants. It began as a weekend hobby; however, once he realized there was more to learn about bananas than just nights and weekends allowed, the focus changed directions. He discovered that there were too many gaps in the then current research that professed that bananas would not grow in climates like ours. Also, the majority of banana research was directed at developing disease resistant bananas and there had not been sufficient research on range of growth. Dr. Wallace saw this as a perfect exploration opportunity. The more time he spent on the subject, the more his interest was sparked.
Now, one might ask the very basic question: “Why bananas?” Dr. Wallace’s response: “Why not?” He goes on to say that he was not driven by economic reasons; it merely started as curiosity. He has a knack for anything that is not “main-stream.” He loves being told that there is something that cannot be done. “It’s not defiance,” he quickly clarifies, he just simply wonders, “Why not?” Dr. Wallace has understandably grown quite fond of these banana trees. It is not difficult to see why- they are absolutely gorgeous. He comments that they look “so relaxing as they blow in the wind.” And, as aesthetically pleasing as they are, they are just as versatile in their use. Dr. Wallace specifies that, “anything you can do with a potato, you can do with a green banana.”
Dr. Wallace admits that when he first started this biotechnology research, he was unaware of how connected everything is. For example, he found some insect infestation on his plants a few years ago. Rather than spraying harmful pesticides right away, he let time run its course and now the insects and the bananas help each other thrive and live in balance. And, for those who need clarification like I did, biotechnology is a term used to describe the use of technology to answer biochemical questions.
As a researcher and a scientist, Dr. Wallace is striving to produce an even better variety of bananas. In the future, he would like to see local farmers growing them for both consumption and landscaping purposes. He jokes that they are like his own children, whom he hopes grows up to serve others one day. Dr. Wallace regrets that a lot of children today are missing the opportunity to see things grow and to gain the understanding of how fragile our ecosystem really is. “As a group, we depend on others too much to get food. There’s a lot to be done with just a little creativity and interest.”
Most of us feel, at least at one point in our lives, that we want to make the world a better place. Well, so does Dr. Wallace, and he is doing something about it. He says he has always been fascinated by the application of science. It is very easy to deem science as evil and insensitive, but as Dr. Wallace points out, it also serves “a whole lot of good.” Changing the public’s perception of this is definitely a goal of his.
The Wallace’s and their two golden retrievers, Gracie and Sylvester, still live in the “second house they ever looked at” when they first moved to Richmond Hill 15 years ago. Dr. Wallace is nothing but complimentary of the city: its growth, its location, and of his accepting and supportive neighbors. Also, he is lucky enough to still have his family in close proximity. Dr. Wallace’s brother and sister reside in Richmond Hill with their families, as well.
An additional perk this research has yielded is the affect it has had on Dr. Wallace’s main passion, teaching. He admits that he did not expect his students to find this as interesting as they did, especially in comparison to traditional organic chemistry research. “Every day is a learning experience,” Dr. Wallace explains, “new research, new discoveries. The world is changing; the boundaries are moving forward.” His passion is unmistakable and he passes this on to his students. He says he loves to see the “light come on in students’ eyes”- I imagine that it is quite helpful to see the fire burning in his. He states that teaching has, “the potential to impact” and he loves that.
In their free time, Dr. Wallace and his wife enjoy the outdoors- biking, walking, and going to the beach. He also enjoys putting his banana products to use by making one of his favorite dish- tostones. However, despite his renowned success and ground- breaking research, Dr. Wallace is confident enough to admit this surprising response upon my asking him to name his favorite fruit, “raspberries or cherries.” He does quickly retort, “but you can’t grow those here… yet!”
Dr. Wallace claims that every scientist has something in the back of his or her mind that sparks interest- one wonders if his parents had any inkling of the inspiration they cultivated with that one children’ garden row. I, for one, am honored that such an inspiring, optimistic and intelligent man is working to enrich our lives. Dr. Wallace admits, “If I had to give all of it up, I’d keep the teaching. Big picture, what determines our future is the next group of adults.” With Dr. Wallace leading the way, I’d say they are in pretty good hands.