Why is it that universities are referred to as “ivory towers”? The historical origins of the term are traced back to several verses in the Bible. It is most often used to suggest that academic institutions are separated from the world and the cares of daily life and ordinary people. Indeed, one definition of the word “academic” refers to activity or knowledge that is not practical or useful. Universities must remain committed to “curiosity-driven” and basic research, and researchers must be willing to question commonly held assumptions. However, we should not take from that commitment an understanding that such research does not—in either the long or short run—contribute importantly to the understanding and solution of pressing problems that concern us all.

A great deal of work at Rice helps us move from unproven assumption to substantiated knowledge. Examples in this issue of Sallyport include a study by statistician Rudy Guerra and colleagues that rules out one of the most prominent theories for why elevated levels of a particular fat-carrying protein lead to increased risks for heart attacks among whites but not among African Americans. New findings by Rice psychologist Geoffrey Potts demonstrate that alcohol-dependent patients initially may be incapable of certain cognitive skills required by traditional therapy, possibly clearing the way to more effective treatments. Jones School professor Doug Schuler, using empirical evidence, examines whether investments by multinational corporations have improved conditions for the world’s poor. And Andrew Lustig, director of Rice’s Program on Biotechnology, Religion, and Ethics, offers a careful analysis of the key ethical issues surrounding end-of-life care.

The true pursuit of knowledge, even for its own sake, is ineluctably a commitment to the betterment of our world. This commitment is reflected at Rice not only in our research and teaching, but in our responses to the needs that arise in the world around us. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, our university reached out and accepted as visiting students, without any payment to Rice, 120 Tulane enrollees displaced by Katrina. And as shelters in Houston filled, students, faculty, staff, and alumni alike mobilized to help people who had lost everything, donating time, goods and money to help cover the evacuee’s needs. Volunteer efforts ranged from housing and dining employees cooking 500 pounds of meat a day for evacuees, to Rice EMS students working double shifts providing care, to members of the Rice custodial staff organizing to clean restrooms at the Astrodome. Having responded to some of the immediate needs created by the hurricane, Rice researchers already have turned their attention to improving our understanding of the natural phenomena behind such disasters and to studying the problems faced by the evacuees. It is this fundamental ethic of making a contribution to others that ought to drive our teaching, research, and service missions.

This was certainly true of Rick Smalley, our renowned Nobel Laureate who passed away just before this issue went to press. This is an immense loss not only to the Rice community, but to the world scientific community. Rick epitomized our commitment to discovering new things about our world and turning that knowledge to the improvement of our lives. I know of no one who brought more energy and vision to that mission. We cannot replace Rick, but what he built at Rice in nanotechnology will endure as his monument and will yet produce many of the great things he imagined.

—David W. Leebron