***** Vol.4 Chap.17 Another electrifying presentation *****

The semester was fast approaching the end. In the meantime, JB was busy wrapping up her teaching duties. She was really looking forward to the summer when she did not have to teach any classes and instead dedicate her whole attention to two items: furthering her research and gaining recognition. The last item was really what she was after. The first was only the means to get the second.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in.” It was Jim, her department chair.

“Hi, Jim. I hope you bring good news today.”

“I do, I do. How do you know?”

“Just a wild guess. Instead of me always pestering you in your office, you come this time. So, it must be either good news or very, very bad news.”

They both laughed.

“Well, how about good news for today?

“I am all ears.”

“The search committee has decided that you have made the short list. Since you are already with us and we all know you, the search committee has agreed to waive the interview process and just have you give a seminar to the faculty and the University at large. Would you be okay with that?”

“I am delighted to hear the news. Of course, this is fine. Let me know when you want me to give a seminar.”

“Well, the semester is ending quickly. How about next Friday? We do not have classes on that day because it was the last day before finals.”

“No problem. I’ll put that on my calendar.” Pecking at her phone scheduler, it took only a second for her to enter the info.

“Good, I look forward to hearing your presentation.”

“I look forward to presenting my research and my vision.”

After Jim left, JB thought another cog on the wheel was about to fall into place. She knew she had to really prepare for this presentation to wow the faculty. For the rest of the afternoon, she paced around the office, organizing her thoughts.

This must be the best presentation in the history of this department and this University. The presentation must be flawless and outstanding. She reminded herself.

She recalled the earlier presentation at the special workshop of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and felt happy to use that as a basis. She just had to bring that presentation up to date.

In addition to a stellar performance, her look must be professorial, in fact distinguished enough even to be a chair professor, though the interview was not for the chair professor. It would not hurt to look like a chair professor.

A brand-new business suit custom made and tailored for her would fit the bill. She made sure all the salespersons at the most expensive clothing store approved of her clothing coordination. The day before the presentation, she went for a haircut and hair styling. Then she went home and stood before the mirror and practiced giving her presentation. She studied her gestures, her tone, and her mannerism and practiced till she was satisfied.

The following Friday came soon enough. Having gone over her presentation so many times she decided not to have any notes on hand and spoke directly to her audience. Besides, she had all her slides memorized already.

After adjusting her new business suit and checking on her hairdo, she entered the auditorium with her head held high and gave her slides to the assistant. Then walking straight to the front, she sat next to Jim.

Jim took a double take on her, smiled, and asked if she was ready. She nodded her head. As usual, the auditorium was packed. JB made sure all her students were there and told them to cheer loudly for extra credits. Of course, faculty from other related departments were there as well. In particular, she made sure Dr. Tomash and Dr. Tularish also came as well.

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Jim stood up and made a brief introduction and then turn the microphone to her.

She stood up and walked slowly to the front of the podium in a distinguished manner while looking at the audience with a smile. She noted Dean Cherry was there and nodded to him. She waved her hand towards Dr. Tomash and Dr. Tularish.

“Thank you, Dean Cherry for coming. Thank you to all the faculty members in the audience for being here. Thank you, Dr. Tomash, my indispensable collaborator…” She motioned to her.

“…and Dr. Tularish, my personal guide and mentor…”

Jim thought JB was about to acknowledge everyone in the audience individually by name. Certainly, she was giving a great impression that she was well connected within the university community.

“I am so pleased to be here and to have this opportunity to give a brief update on some of my latest and most exciting research this afternoon.” JB continued.

Starting from her own research, JB gave a detailed account of how she had discovered a relationship between multiple DNA genome sequences and observed the correlation to aggression in a group of inmates.

She emphasized that many geneticists were unable to crack the human genome despite years of research. Through her latest artificial intelligence technology, the search for relevant information became much easier and much faster.

JB glanced at the audience. No one seemed struck by lightning yet. She told herself to better kick up a notch or two.

Then, with gusto, she began to highlight the benefits of her techniques and how her techniques were accurate to the point that it could even predict the degree of violence a person could be just from the genetic coding. Of course, JB did not divulge or show the audience the data from the PPTSB organization.

But she was bold to share the results from that dataset, without giving the details of course. With a little extrapolation and a little bending the truth, she boldly claimed that she could with perfect certainly predict the degree of violence for anyone just by looking at the given DNA sequence.

“I believe my techniques could be applied to other observed behaviors, not just violent tendencies.”

A bold and unjustified claim indeed. But the claim had the effect of catching the attention of a few people in the audience. JB thought she needed to really work on inspiring her audience.

“That was the past. But this morning I want to focus on the future.” JB saw a few more heads looking up at her.

“I just got noticed that my NSF grant will be funded for this coming year.”

Jim took the lead to clap.

“In this grant, we are pushing the envelope of science. We want to be able to predict the behavior of offspring. I think we all want our offspring to be perfect. Don’t we?”

JB saw a few nods in the audience. Okay, that was a good start.

“We have the data now, and Margaret and I,” she nodded towards Dr. Tomash, “believe that we can understand how nature determines the DNA of the offspring. This offers us hope that we can have the best offspring in the future.”

Half-truths. There were a few claps in the audience.

“Today, I want to share that we are not happy just finding a relationship between the DNA coding and the observed behavior. We want to be able to screen for people with violent tendencies. Furthermore, we want to be able to help those who may not be so fortunate in their DNA coding.”

“Kendall and I,” JB pointed to Dr. Tularish, “feel that we may have found a way not only to provide screening for people with violent tendencies but also to provide a cure for such aberrations.”

More bending of the truth giving rise to more enthusiasm in the clapping.

“So, to conclude, I want to share my vision with you.

Boldly and loudly with eyes fixed forward, she raised her arms and declared,

“I can see the days where we can predict with certainty the degree of violent tendencies in a fetus before the baby is born.

I can see the days where we can repair the DNA sequence when the prediction is not favorable. I can see the days where persons with violent behavior will be eradicated.

I can see the days where other evil natures will also be eradicated.

I can see the days where all humans on this earth will dwell together in harmony.

While you may think that this is impossible, but I do believe that in my lifetime and very soon, this will be our reality.”

This time, there were thunderous claps among the audience. JB finally smiled and nodded to the audience. She waved her hands and thanked the audience repeatedly before slowly walking back to her seat.

He turned to Jim, “How do I do?”

Jim just smiled. Obviously, he was satisfied with the performance.

After the presentation, Jim came to JB's office.

“That was quite a presentation you gave this afternoon,” Jim started the conversation.

“Thank you. I really wanted to impress the audience.”

“That you have certainly done. In fact, some faculty members came to me and asked if you were interviewing for the Chair Professorship position. Unfortunately, I had to tell them no.”

“You could have told them yes?” JB said jokingly, though she was quite serious about that. She really wanted that Chair Professorship.

“All in good time, JB. One thing at a time.”

“I guess you are right.” JB was visibly disappointed.

She felt confident that the department would offer her a permanent position. From the comments of the department chair and other faculty members in passing, they all seemed to think that the position was practically hers.

They just had to go through the motions to finish the search process and then suggest to the Dean who the faculty search committee would recommend for hiring. She was happy but not ecstatic because she really wanted the Chair Professorship. She vowed to herself that she would get that very soon.