Ebright behavior towards his mother from …

Richard Ebright's mother played a very significant role in his scientific career. She was his only companion till he started school. Since Ebright was a curious child with a bright mind, his mother encouraged his interest in learning. She took him out on trips, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipment. The two spent every night at their dining room table where his mother found something new for him to learn. She also encouraged Ebright's penchant for collecting different objects such as rocks, fossils, coins and butterflies. When Ebright thought that he was done collecting butterflies, his mother got him a children's book called The Travels of Monarch X, which opened the world of science to his inquisitive mind. Ebright was able to get in touch with Dr Frederick A. Urquhart, after Ebright's mother wrote to him, helping him participate in Dr Urquhart's research on monarch butterflies' migration. Dr Urquhart later helped him by suggesting various ideas for research that eventually won Ebright several prizes at the International Science Fair.