The end of the spring semester is always a time of many and sometimes competing emotions. You may feel stressed out by your work and preparation for final examinations, or you may be looking forward to an exciting summer program, job, internship, or to rest and relaxation. There is always a sense of excitement and sadness as the academic year comes to a close, especially for graduating students, many of whom will be leaving Rensselaer and their friends.
As you focus on your studies in the coming days, I encourage you to think about the purpose of your work here. I know many of you are highly motivated and possess an inner drive that propels you forward during your demanding and intense academic preparation. Reflecting on the aim of your work is another source of motivation, as you prepare to do nothing less than change the world.
As you know, Rensselaer promotes interdisciplinary research and learning. The “low walls” between schools and disciplines here support discovery through teamwork, drawing upon the best of our talented faculty and students. Rensselaer’s record of excellence in this regard led to its designation last week as an Upper Hudson Satellite Center of the Rivers and Estuaries Center on the Hudson—a world class institute for the study of rivers and estuaries. We are bringing together for this work: roboticists; visualization, modeling, and simulation specialists; social scientists; and the latest technologies for remote sensing.
With the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in the news daily, it is a good time to consider the crucial role of collaborative work to tackle problems that affect the health, safety, and security of so many. The viral lung infection has, as of this writing, spread to at least 25 countries, with more than 3,500 cases, and counting. These may seem like insignificant numbers compared with, for example, the estimated 40 million people worldwide infected with HIV, but the rapid spread of the illness has health and government officials worried.
The question facing countries around the world is whether the SARS outbreak will continue to escalate into a global health crisis, or will effective measures halt or slow the spread. That is unknown, at this point, but as the disease continues to take hold, its effects are multi-dimensional—and potentially devastating.
Often fear spreads more quickly than a virus. Already economies in Asia—especially in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan—are suffering from the downturn in business and tourist travel to countries in that part of the world. In Ontario, Canada—which has been hard hit by the epidemic—25 percent of the cases are health care workers. Now workers in SARS units in Toronto hospitals must wear masks covering the mouth and nose as well as protective goggles and a shield covering the entire face.
Education has been affected as well, as higher education institutions, such as the University of California, have suspended study-abroad programs in China. Meanwhile, Peking University recently canceled classes at its School of Economics when a staff member was suspected of having the illness. As a result, 30 faculty members were put into isolation.
Of course, we cannot simply shut our borders and cripple our vital global economy to stop the spread of SARS. Fortunately, those tackling the epidemic are working collaboratively to identify and fight the virus. Through the efforts of 11 laboratories around the world, including those at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, researchers were able to quickly map the virus’s genome, information that is crucial for the development of diagnostic tests, antiviral drugs, and, possibly, a vaccine. These researchers represent the power of collaboration, and they are an example of what also can be accomplished through the careful planning and coordination of public health and government policy, as well as education programs, which respond to the needs of all societies affected by the disease.
SARS is a case study in action of how we respond to a public health threat. At Rensselaer, we believe such challenges are best faced by bringing to bear all the expertise available from a diverse range of disciplines. I hope that you follow this unfolding story in order to gain insight into how we might work together more effectively to change the world.
Good luck on your exams and enjoy the summer. For our graduates, I wish you all the best in all of your future endeavors.
