PRESIDENT'S LETTER :

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Innovations.

I cannot think of a more fitting name for a publication that will capture and convey what is happening today across UMass—innovation in the classroom, in the lab, in the field, online, and around the world. Innovation is the lifeblood of all we do and must not only be the goal of our efforts, but it must inspire the very way we work together.

As educators, we lead the continuous quest for new ideas, new information, and new ways of thinking about and acting on both age-old problems and the challenges of tomorrow. As you will read, breakthrough research and strategic partnerships with industry are building a foundation to meet those challenges. Students and professors are making discoveries that will improve the lives of people across the globe and solve some of our most pressing scientific, social, and economic issues.

By harnessing the spirit and innovation seen across UMass every day, we can continue to fulfill our mission as a public research university—to assist the Commonwealth in advancing its competitive position as a global leader. I am pleased, through this magazine, to share these exciting stories.

Jack M. Wilson, Ph.D.
President