Earl's interest in science came from rather practical considerations. In 1937 Earl took several courses in science at San Bernardino Valley College with the hope of setting up a soil-testing laboratory, a business that looked promising to him. However, realizing that he needed a more rigorous education, Earl enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley, in 1940. His brother and sister lent him the money for registration, and he supported himself by washing dishes in a boarding house and glassware in a laboratory. He also received some assistance from the government through the National Youth Administration program. In 1942, Earl earned his B.S. in soil science.
Video: Earl Stadtman on how he became a biochemist
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