A Message About Research

A Message About Research From

STEADMAN UPHAM

Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education
and
Dean of the Graduate School

If I have seen farther than others,
it is because I was standing
on the shoulders of giants.

--Sir Isaac Newton

Cutting-edge research follows from the purposeful accumulation, assembly, and application of facts, information, knowledge, and wisdom. Yet breakthroughs in research often occur serendipitously in brilliant flashes of insight. The researchers featured in this issue of Inquiry illustrate both principles. They have carefully built their research programs on the results of others in their field to move to the next level of achievement. And each has been motivated by an "aha! experience," the flash of insight that allows one to connect previously disparate facts and information in novel and important ways.

PAGE ONE--Materials scientist Mark Lonergan explores the molecular structure of new materials, seeking ways to utilize their singular properties in next-generation electronic applications.
PAGE TWO--The discoveries of chemist Bruce Branchaud and molecular biologist Jim Remington are leading to important biomedical applications.
PAGE THREE--Educators Rob Horner and George Sugai develop and implement a new and practical program for grades K-8 to reduce discipline problems and significantly improve school learning environments. Architect Nancy Cheng prepares today's students for success by exposing them to cutting-edge telecommunications technologies.
PAGE FOUR--Energy researchers Frank Vignola, Dave Cohen, and John Reynolds work to expand our abilities to harness the world's most important renewable energy resource, the sun.

Like Newton, these University of Oregon researchers are committed to learning from those who preceded them. They value and respect this tradition through their living example and by training and educating the next generation of scientists and educators for our world.

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