Dr. Stephen Powles is one of the world's most highly respected and cited plant scientists.  He has received countless awards for his pioneering work in the area of herbicide resistance and published over 250 research papers on the subject.  You may be surprised to learn that Steve's career began inauspiciously when he dropped out of high school to help support his family.  In part one of this two-part series, we discuss Steve's fascinating history as his lifelong quest for knowledge carried him across the globe in his educational journey. To learn more about this topic or to start a discussion with Dr. Powles, follow him on Twitter @sbpowles or email him at [email protected].  More information can be found at the University of Western Australia website.