  Over the past 50 years, the use of mathematical models, derived from physical
reasoning, to describe molecular and cellular systems has evolved from an art
of the few to a cornerstone of biological inquiry. George Oster stood out as a
pioneer of this paradigm shift from descriptive to quantitative biology not
only through his numerous research accomplishments, but also through the many
students and postdocs he mentored over his long career. Those of us fortunate
enough to have worked with George agree that his sharp intellect, physical
intuition and passion for scientific inquiry not only inspired us as scientists
but also greatly influenced the way we conduct research. We would like to share
a few important lessons we learned from George in honor of his memory and with
the hope that they may inspire future generations of scientists.
