The Washington Post - USA (2022-05-15)

sunday, may 15 , 2022. the washington post EZ RE A

CONTENT FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

The instrument of hope: The public research university

Darryll J. Pines, President, University of Maryland

I assumed the presidency of

the University of Maryland amid

the COVID-19 pandemic and a

heightened urgency to address racial

injustice, sparked by the senseless

deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George

Floyd and too many others. Over

two years later, we still wrestle with

these challenges – and so many

more. War and conflict. Inequality

and hate. Political polarization and

threats to democracy. In today’s

hyper-connected global environment,

the problems facing humanity seem

more daunting than ever.

These threats are omnipresent

in newspapers, social media and

broadcast networks. Consume too

much of the difficulties before us,

and we risk falling into despair and

hopelessness. Cut ourselves off from

it, and we risk becoming ignorant, or

worse, apathetic.

That is why I believe we need to

reframe these grand challenges as

grand opportunities.

Despite the uncertainty and tragedy

of the last two years, I still have

great optimism. Hope, after all, is

the prerequisite for progress, and

we have continually seen people and

institutions willing to step forward

and assume responsibility for

improving the human condition.

Who, then, will choose to lead

boldly? Public research universities,

particularly those in the Association

of American Universities (AAU), of

which the University of Maryland

is a proud member. We are on

the leading edge of innovation,

scholarship and scientific progress,

economic development, security

and well-being. Our institutions are

uniquely positioned to take on the

grand challenges of our time, and

it is on our campuses where the

four essential elements of progress

converge.

The first element is an unwavering

and resolute belief in the power

of research and discovery. Look

no further than the dramatic

development of COVID-19 vaccines

and treatments. Developed by

pharmaceutical companies in a

remarkably short period of time,

these vaccines were made possible

because of previous decades

of research and investment in

chemistry, biology and medicine.

We have only begun to see the

potential of mRNA vaccines, which

could transform treatments for

cancer, HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular

disease. The solutions to our grand

challenges will be found through

this same rigorous dedication to the

pursuit of knowledge.

Expanding our vision and

imagination through the arts and the

humanities is the second ingredient.

The arts humanize our challenges

and foster universal understanding.

In order to build a more tolerant

and peaceful world, we will need the

wisdom that comes from visionary

dance, novels, music and all types of

performance. The arts and sciences

are also mutually beneficial; in a

report entitled “Branches from the

Same Tree,” the National Academies

of Sciences, Engineering and

Medicine found that “integration of

the arts and humanities with STEM

... leads to certain positive learning

outcomes, such as critical thinking,

communication skills, the ability

to work well in teams, content

mastery, improved visuo-spatial

skills, and improved motivation and

enjoyment of learning.” Solutions to

our grand challenges will demand

all of these skills.

Many of our conflicts also remain

rooted in a misunderstanding

of our differences, the failure

to recognize shared values and

the fear of something unknown

across race, religion, skin color,

sexual identity, gender or political

affiliation. Any institution taking on

the grand challenges of our time

must embrace a true multicultural

community, where every person is

valued and heard and can learn

from different cultures, experiences,

and perspectives. This is the third

essential element.

Universities are at the heart of this,

because it is here that students

often encounter new people and

ideas that challenge long-held

beliefs. And what better place is

there to discuss and debate fiercely

held ideas and ideals than at an

institution of higher learning? Our

mission is to educate global citizens,

expose them to ideas and ideals,

and equip them with the experiences

needed to pursue solutions. Answers

to our grand challenges can only

be found when we purposefully

create an inclusive, multicultural

community. Here at Maryland, we are

investing $40 million in recruiting

faculty of color and reimagining our

core diversity programming for all

students. The pursuit of a welcoming

multicultural community should be

considered a perpetual and vital

work in progress.

We also need the next generation

of students to be driven by purpose

and shaped by unique learning

experiences, inside and outside the

classroom. This is the final element

of progress.

One of the distinguishing

characteristics of major public

universities is the scope of their co-

curricular opportunities, the chances

to partner with groundbreaking

researchers and promising students

on projects and competitions.

Recently, teams from universities

across the country competed in a

Vertical Flight Society competition

that encouraged interest in

unmanned aircraft technology

and small air vehicle design and

fabrication. The competition was

designed to develop hands-on skills

and familiarization with electric

vertical take-off and advanced

air mobility technology, helping

to prepare the next generation

of engineers and leaders. These

types of competitions catalyze

technological innovations and

learning outcomes. We need more

unique experiences, challenges,

contests and prizes like this to drive

innovation.

These are the essential ingredients

of hope and progress: A robust

research enterprise. A commitment

to the arts and humanities. An

inclusive and respectful multicultural

community. Unique and challenging

learning experiences.

If this reads like a love letter to

public research universities, it’s

because it is. Institutions like the

University of Maryland are where

all these driving forces converge,

every day. As we face growing

and increasingly complex global

challenges, we must reinvest

and rededicate ourselves to the

support of research universities.

This is where breakthroughs and

discoveries will usher in a new era

of progress and prosperity for all

humankind.

PERSPECTIVES