Monday messages

Sharing knowledge part of KU's mission

Dear Colleagues,

How do you measure the value of the University of Kansas?

One way would be to look at the number of degrees granted – almost 6,000 last year – and the lives and livelihoods enhanced by the knowledge gained during the pursuit of those degrees.

It could be measured in the research that takes place here – nearly $290 million a year – that leads to new discoveries, new technologies and a greater understanding of our world.

Or it could be measured by looking at the lives touched by the service projects and outreach conducted by KU students, faculty and staff from all areas of the university.

These are all important measures of KU’s worth. But there’s one more way we work for Kansas and that is by spreading knowledge and fostering a love of learning throughout the community.

There are countless ways this takes place, from the work of our museums to outreach trips conducted by our professors. I’d like to highlight one such project – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ CLAS ACTS lecture series.

This new series gives KU scholars the opportunity to share their passion for knowledge with members of the community. Entertaining and educational, these presentations provide a glimpse into these scholars’ fields of study. And since one of the goals of the series is to spark the imagination and create a love of learning, several of the events are open to children and have child-oriented activities.

In September, people from all over Kansas came to hear astronaut Steve Hawley of the Department of Physics and Astronomy talk about his five flights into space and his work on the Hubble Space Telescope. That was followed with a timely pre-election discussion of presidential campaign rhetoric by Robin Rowland, chair of the Department of Communication Studies.

This month’s presentation tackled the question “What makes a monster?” Bill Tsutsui, professor of history, and Randi Hacker of the Center for East Asian Studies used videos and stories, as well as child-friendly activities, as they discussed humanity’s fascination with monsters as varied as Godzilla and Cookie Monster.

Co-hosted by The Commons, five more events remain in the 2008-09 CLAS ACTS series and will examine issues ranging from immigration policy to child nutrition, poetry to terrorism. The next event is December 7 and is a geography competition sponsored by the Department of Geography.

More information about this and future CLAS ACTS events can be found at http://www.clas.ku.edu/outreach/clasacts/.

This initiative and the many others like it being conducted by other KU schools, departments and units are how we reach out to the broader community. They are indicative of the spirit that fills our institution and of the value of the university.

The academic inquiry taking place in every school and department at KU inspires and enlightens, engages and cures. We seek to learn more about our world not to store facts away, but to share them so as to enhance humanity’s shared body of knowledge. It is noble work; work we should all be eager to share and work that demonstrates the value of KU to our community, state, nation and world. Simply put, it is work that makes one proud to be a Jayhawk.

Sincerely,
Bob Hemenway
Chancellor