Rebecca Skloot Quotes

A collection of quotes by Rebecca Skloot.

Rebecca Skloot is an American science writer known for her debut book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." Born on September 19, 1972, in Springfield, Illinois, Skloot grew up with an interest in science and writing. She attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she studied biological sciences and creative writing.

Skloot started her career as a freelance writer, often focusing on the intersection of science and society. In 1999, she became fascinated by the story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells were harvested without her knowledge or consent in the 1950s. These cells, known as HeLa cells, played a pivotal role in numerous medical breakthroughs but raised important ethical questions.

Skloot spent more than a decade researching Henrietta Lacks and her family, gathering information about the impact of the HeLa cells and the Lacks family's struggle for recognition and compensation. Her resulting book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," was published in 2010 and became a New York Times bestseller. It received widespread acclaim for its blend of scientific research, biography, and ethical exploration. The book also shed light on issues of race, medical ethics, and informed consent.

As a result of her impactful debut, Skloot has become a prominent figure in science writing and has received numerous awards for her work, including the National Academies Communication Award and the Wellcome Trust Book Prize. She continues to write, lectures at universities, and advocates for greater understanding and discussion surrounding the intersection of science, ethics, and society.