A Journey Without Maps: DNA, Diplomacy, Teaching, Culture

A Journey Without Maps is the dynamic and inspiring memoir of a groundbreaking thinker and expansive traveler whose sustained belief in humanity has made the world a more connected place.

Born in Paris to Chinese diplomats in 1938, Robert Yuan grew up in Cuba, pursued higher education and research in the U.S., Western Europe, and Asia. His essential work in molecular biology contributed to the discovery of genetic sequencing and mapping and, eventually, genetic engineering.

In 1984, Yuan’s talent for travel and diplomacy landed him in the Foreign Service for several years. Following that, he specialized in the field of science education in the United States where he pioneered new approaches to teaching which prioritized diversity and globalization.

Yuan’s remarkable ability to immerse himself in different cultural environments, relate to all kinds of people (in all kinds of languages), and find joy in a fantastic variety of cultures and foods and experiences comes across vividly in this joyful narrative of a life well and productively lived.