Des Moines Register
03-31-07
At ISU, breakthroughs in biorenewables could make difference for world
By ROBERT RAY
SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER
In December, I had the privilege of giving the fall commencement address at
Iowa State University. I wanted to offer the graduating students a perspective on
how their Iowa State experience has equipped them to compete and succeed in
a rapidly changing world, so I studied a recent report from President Gregory
Geoffroy.
What struck me is that what is happening at Iowa State is a message that is
important for every Iowan, not just those who had gathered in Hilton Coliseum.
During the past several months, as our state and national leaders have made
biorenewable energy a top priority, that message has become even more
important. All Iowans have a vested interest in the initiatives under way at Iowa
State.
President Geoffroy's report is titled "Where Breakthroughs Happen," an apt
phrase when you consider the worldwide potential of the education, research and
outreach taking place at Iowa State.
- Bioeconomy initiative: The university's traditional science and technology
expertise is leading to the development of a new and exciting bioeconomy. By
bringing together some of the best minds from many academic disciplines, Iowa
State is working to make new and better use of the resources we have at home.
Iowa State's bioeconomy initiative holds promise to help Iowa become the leader
in new sources of energy, materials and even medicines.
- Breakthroughs in human health: Other breakthroughs at Iowa State hold
promise for people around the world to live longer, healthier lives. The university
is becoming a center of health-related research in the state: working on animal
genomics to improve human health, mapping the corn genome to develop new
pharmaceuticals and finding links between nutrition and cancer prevention.
- Technology innovations: President Geoffroy's report also showcases new
breakthroughs in digital technology, building upon 67 years of leadership since
the first digital computer was invented at Iowa State. Today, the university is
home to one of the fastest, most powerful supercomputers in the world and the
first six-sided virtual-reality facility. These resources and others are helping
researchers apply digital technology to solving contemporary problems. For
example, work under way at Iowa State will lead to more secure computers and
the vital information stored in them and new ways to interact with computers that
may eventually allow people to issue commands with simple gestures.
- World-class education: The president's report reminds us that the key mission
of our public universities is to teach. Iowa State's doors are wide open to high
school students from every corner of the state. Students from every Iowa county,
Adair to Wright, are learning from the same professors who are achieving
breakthroughs in laboratories throughout the campus. It exemplifies our state's
long-standing commitment to education and research that is both relevant to
Iowa and important to the world.
President Geoffroy's report on Iowa State fulfills another expectation we all
should have of public institutions: accountability. It offers a unique, big-picture
look at one of our most important institutions. From research to academics, from
infrastructure to finances, from athletics to alumni, the big picture of Iowa State
University is a picture of breakthroughs. It is a picture that should make all
Iowans proud.
ROBERT D. RAY of Des Moines is a former governor of Iowa, serving from 1969
to 1983. He is a graduate of Drake University and its law school.