Inspiring Curiosity IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE to Spend Days in China at the Website for This Project Listed on the Left
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DIALOGUE dean’s notes Inspiring Curiosity IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE to spend days in China at the website for this project listed on the left. While and Korea this summer visiting universities with in Beijing, I asked our students how their lab meet - which the College has relationships, as well as meet - ings were going, and Justin pointed out that chemi - ing our large group of wonderful alumni in those cal formulas are the same everywhere. Similarly, Xi - countries. But of all those I met —university presi - aowen writes on his blog: “Chemistry =Chem –is –try.” dents, provosts, and faculty members, among others International understanding is certainly all about —the most memorable were: Tiffany Chen, Justin trying, and that begins with the recognition of the Lomont, Brian O’Keefe, Wei Wang, Xiaowen Feng, things we have in common with others such as the Xiaoxue Zhou, and Yiran Shen. These seven extraor - scientific method. It is the goal —indeed duty —of dinary young people are undergraduate chemistry liberal arts colleges to inspire a curiosity for all students from LSA and Peking University in Beijing things human. And when chemistry majors with no (PKU ), and they are the pioneers in a remarkable ex - background in Chinese studies jump at the chance change program we launched this summer with the to study chemistry in Beijing, we have succeeded. Arthur F. Thurnau help of the National Science Foundation, the Drey - It was the same kind of curiosity and pioneering Professor, Professor of History, fus Foundation, and generous alumni such as Rich spirit that led early leaders of the University to and Dean Rogel (’ ) and his wife, Susan. begin our deep relationships with all Asian coun - Terrence J. McDonald Because chemistry is chemistry the world over, tries. University President James B. Angell served as Professors Brian Coppola and James Penner-Hahn Minister to China in and former Regent John of LSA ’s Department of Chemistry proposed an ex - M. B. Sill became Minister to Korea in . These LSA online change between our undergraduate chemistry ma - early connections led to UM having the largest www.lsa. jors and those from PKU , who were selected by number of Asian students of any university in umich.edu chemistry faculty in China under the leadership of America by the s. Our “Oriental Civilizations UM-PKO E XCHANGE WEBSITE : Professor Zi-Chen Li. As a result, three of our stu - Program” began in that decade (succeeded today by www.umich.edu/~michchem/ UMPKU dents (Tiffany, Justin, and Brian) were in China the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures) this summer and four PKU students (Wei, Xiaowen, and in the s our various Asian studies centers Xiaoxue, and Yiran) were here. Each worked on a began their own rise to national prominence. project in the lab for eight weeks, culminating in a While in Beijing it was an honor to meet with the “poster session” in which the students and their fac - current U.S. Ambassador to China, Clark T. Randt ulty sponsors presented their work to one another Jr. ( J.D.’ ), an alumnus of UM ’s Law School, who via a high-speed Internet transmission. The pre- said he selected UM because of its broader reputa - program orientation and many on-site logistics tion in Chinese studies. From Angell to Randt, the were organized by a joint institute that the College tradition continues. We stimulate curiosity about shares with PKU , which was founded by the Direc - the world in part so we can make the Michigan tor of our Center for Chinese Studies and a Freder - Difference in it. ick G. L. Huetwell Professor of History, James Z. Lee. We hope to spread these scientific opportuni - ties to other disciplines in the sciences over time. o l i t t You can meet these wonderful students yourself a D . T p i l i h P 2 LSA fall 2007 DIALOGUE HmEy nLamLe iO s Copyright © 2007 University of Michigan ARTICLES APPEARING IN LSAMAGAZINE MAY BE REPRINTED BY OBTAINING PERMISSION FROM: Editor College of Literature, Science, and the Arts University of Michigan Suite 5000 500 South State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382 734.615.6333 [email protected] What’s in a Name? Terrence J. McDonald ARTHUR F. THURNAU PROFESSOR, AROUND OUR EDITORIAL OFFICES , we began referring to this issue as the PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, AND DEAN, COLLEGE OF LSA “power” issue: We showcase China as a rising superpower (p. ); we look at Peggy Burns the viability of ethanol and other alternative fuels to power our vehicles (p. ASSISTANT DEAN FOR LSA ADVANCEMENT ); and of course there’s our article on James Earl Jones (’ ), one of the most Lara Zielin powerful men on screen and on stage today (p. ). EDITOR Yet perhaps we should have called this the “math” issue. We interviewed Bob Rebekah Murray Megginson, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education, and he told us how ASSISTANT EDITOR he’s helping LSA students look at numbers in new ways (p. ); we asked alum - Patricia Claydon ART DIRECTOR AND DESIGNER na Fran Allen ( M.A. ’ ) how she used her math degree to become a renowned success as a computer programmer (p. ); and we spoke with LSA Professor Hyman Bass, who was just awarded the National Medal of Science for his con - Regents of the University Julia Donovan Darlow, ANN ARBOR tributions to the field of mathematics (p. ). Laurence B. Deitch, BINGHAM FARMS Then again, we could have called this the “risk” issue. Alumnus Sam Zell Olivia P. Maynard, GOODRICH (’ , J.D.’ ), the new owner of media assets such as the Chicago Tribune , Rebecca McGowan, ANN ARBOR talked to us about the role risk plays in success (p. ). Zell joins other alumni Andrea Fischer Newman, ANN ARBOR success stories, including those in our article “If I Can Make it There,” which Andrew C. Richner, GROSSE POINTE PARK tells the story of how four alumni in New York City went from having night - S. Martin Taylor, GROSSE mare jobs to dream careers (p. ). POINTE FARMS We could also call this issue the “generosity” issue —but then we’d have to call Katherine E. White, ANN ARBOR every issue the generosity issue since UM alums continue to answer the call to Mary Sue Coleman, EX OFFICIO fund critical research and teaching opportunities that might otherwise be jeop - The University of Michigan, as an equal oppor - ardized due to cuts to the University’s state funding. Two alumnae, Beverly tunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws re - Hamilton (’ ) and Amy Rose Silverman (’ ), have funded programs for stu - garding nondiscrimination and affirmative ac - tion, including Title IX of the Education Amend - dents to study abroad (p. ); David Evans (’ ) honored the memory of his ments of 1972 and Section 504 of the grandfather by giving to the Department of History (p. ); and Randall Kaplan Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of nondis - (’ ) started a scholarship for students who were in the foster care system, after crimination and equal opportunity for all per - sons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, he found out his grandmother had been a foster care child herself (p. ). creed, national origin or ancestry, age, marital Then again, we might as well just call this issue —and every issue for that status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gen - der expression, disability, or Vietnam-era veter - matter —the “victors” issue. Because all faculty members, students, and alum - an status in employment, educational pro - grams and activities, and admissions. Inquiries ni with ties to UM prove, time and time again, that they can apply their or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity and Title IX/Sec - knowledge and their degrees in fantastic ways, with results that impact the tion 504 Coordinator, Office for Institutional Eq - world. Hail, hail indeed . uity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, 734-763-0235, TTY 734-647-1388. For other University of Michigan information call 734-764-1817. LARA ZIELIN, EDITOR fall 2007 LSA 3 DIALOGUE (let ters ) Your story on Mary Frances Berry reminded me of my brief encounter with her, one that made me pay atten - tion to her career as it unfolded. It was during the mid-1960s (I don’t recall the exact year), when I was a graduate student in history. Taking a break on a bench outside Haven Hall, I was approached by a determined-looking young African- American woman. She declared: “My name is Mary Frances Berry, and I am here to get a Ph.D. in history. Where is the history department?” I gave her directions and she disap - peared into Haven Hall; I never saw her again in Ann Arbor. N O For some reason, her manner and directness made a deep C A B impression on me, and I’ve always liked to think that I played . U s y r e a c i r n v b the smallest possible cameo role in helping Mary Frances r i L e l S h a o c t i r o o o h t P s i H M J y U Berry get her career started on the right foot at Michigan. e , l n t i n v l e a y B G e . h R t b t f t o o y c s S e ; t ) r e u DONN C. NEAL (M.A. ’63, P h.D. ’73) g o a c p ) e e t g i a s p Fielding Yost Fritz Crisler Bo Schembechler o p s i p 1871–1946 1899–1982 1929–2006 h t O ( ( 21 Enough already with the diversity mantra! While diversity is nice, it is really a sideshow for the vast majority of your readership, and doesn’t I really enjoyed Mr.